Slender Mongoose
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| Galerella sanguinea Rüppell, 1836 |
The slender mongoose of the wide-spread mongoose family, also known as a black-tipped or black-tailed mongoose, is a very common small carnivore in sub-Saharan Africa.
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[edit] Habitat and Range
The slender mongoose and up to forty subspecies are found throughout sub-Saharan Africa. They are adaptable and can live nearly anywhere in this wide range, but are most common in the savannah and semiarid plains, and much rarer in densely-forested areas and deserts.
[edit] Physical Characteristics
As the name suggests, the slender mongoose has a lithe body of 27.5 to 40 cm (approx. 11-17") and a long tail of 23 to 33 cm (approx. 9-13"). Males will weigh approximately 640-715 g (approx. a pound and a half), while the smaller females will weigh approximately 460-575 g (approx. a pound). The species' fur's color varies widely between subspecies from a dark reddish brown to an orange red, grey, or even yellow, but these mongooses can be distinguished from other mongooses due to the prominent black or red tip on their tails. Reportedly, they also have silkier fur than the other African members of their family.
[edit] Behavior
The slender mongoose is generally found either alone or in pairs, and primarily diurnal, though they are sometimes active on warm, moonlit nights. They do not seem to be territorial, but will nevertheless maintain stable home ranges that are often shared with members of related species. Indeed, the slender mongoose and these other species may even den together, as most of their relatives are nocturnal. These dens are anywhere there is shelter from the elements: in the crevices between rocks, in hollow logs, and the like.
[edit] Reproduction
A male's range will include the ranges of several females, and scent cues inform him when the female is in heat. The gestation period is believed to be 60 to 70 days, and most pregnancies result in one to three (usually two) young that the male does not help care for.
[edit] Diet
The slender mongoose is an opportunistic omnivore (though primarily carnivorous). Insects make up the bulk of its diet, but it will also eat lizards, rodents, snakes, birds, amphibians, and very rarely fruit. It is also willing to eat carrion and eggs. As befits the popular image of mongooses, the slender mongoose is capable of killing and subsequently eating even large and poisonous snakes, but this is certainly not a significant portion of its diet.
[edit] Effect on Humans and Vice Versa
The slender mongoose has been targeted by extermination efforts in the past, due to its potential to be a rabies vector and the fact that it sometimes kills domestic poultry. These efforts have not been conspicuously successful. However, some subspecies may be threatened.
[edit] See Also
University of Michigan's Animal Diversity Web's article [1] An identification guide to this mongoose
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