Common slender mongoose

Species of mongoose from Africa

Common slender mongoose
Common slender mongoose in Serengeti National Park
Conservation status

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Feliformia
Family: Herpestidae
Genus: Herpestes
Species:
H. sanguineus
Binomial name
Herpestes sanguineus
(Rüppell, 1835)
Slender mongoose range
Synonyms

Galerella sanguinea

The common slender mongoose (Herpestes sanguineus), also known as the black-tipped mongoose or the black-tailed mongoose, is a very common mongoose species native to sub-Saharan Africa.[2]

Taxonomy

The scientific name Herpestes sanguineus was proposed by Eduard Rüppell in 1835 who described a reddish mongoose observed in the Kordofan region.[3]

Description

Slender mongoose in the Prague Zoo, Czech Republic

As the name suggests, the common slender mongoose has a lithe body of 27.5–40 cm (10.8–15.7 in) and a long tail of 23–33 cm (9.1–13.0 in). Males weigh 640–715 g (22.6–25.2 oz), while the smaller females weigh 460–575 g (16.2–20.3 oz).

The color of their fur varies widely between subspecies, from a dark reddish-brown to an orange red, grey, or even golden yellow, but these mongooses can be distinguished from other mongooses due to the prominent black or red tip on their tails. They also have silkier fur than the other African members of their family.

Distribution and habitat

The common slender mongoose occurs throughout sub-Saharan Africa, where it is most common in the savannah and semiarid plains, but rarely recorded in densely forested areas and deserts.[1]

Behavior and ecology

The common slender mongoose generally lives either alone or in pairs. It is primarily diurnal, although it is sometimes active on warm, moonlit nights. It doesn't seem to be territorial, but will nevertheless maintain stable home ranges that are often shared with members of related species. Indeed, the common slender mongoose and these other species may even den together, as most of their relatives are nocturnal. Dens may be found anywhere sheltered from the elements: in crevices between rocks, in hollow logs, and the like.

Reproduction

A male's range includes 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 young. The male does not help care for them. Unusually, for a solitary species, in the Kalahari Desert the males are philopatric whereas the females disperse.[4]

Feeding

The common slender mongoose is primarily carnivorous, though it is an opportunistic omnivore. Insects make up the bulk of its diet, but lizards, rodents, snakes, birds, amphibians, and the occasional fruit are eaten when available. It will also eat carrion and eggs. As befits the popular image of mongooses, the slender mongoose is capable of killing and subsequently eating venomous snakes, but such snakes do not constitute a significant portion of its diet.

Common slender mongooses are more adept at climbing trees than other mongooses, often hunting birds there. White browed-sparrow weavers, crimson breasted shrikes, and glossy starlings are considered common prey.[5]

Diet often changes during seasons where certain sources of food become less available. Insects are more likely to be consumed in during wet-months whereas larger prey is consumed during dry-months.[5] This adaptability aids the slender common mongoose's ability to survive when changes in habitat occur.

Conservation

The common 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, although some subspecies may be threatened. It is in no immediate danger of extinction, and is IUCN Red Listed as least concern.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c Do Linh San, E.; Maddock, A.H. (2016). "Herpestes sanguineus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T41606A45206143. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ Wozencraft, W. C. (2005). "Species Galerella sanguinea". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 565–566. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  3. ^ Rüppell, E. (1835). "Herpestes sanguineus. Rüppell". Neue Wirbelthiere zu der Fauna von Abyssinien gehörig. Frankfurt am Main: S. Schmerber. pp. 27–28.
  4. ^ Graw, B.; Lindholm, A.K.; Manser, M.B. (2016). "Female-biased dispersal in the solitarily foraging slender mongoose, Galerella sanguinea, in the Kalahari" (PDF). Animal Behaviour. 111: 69–78. doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2015.09.026. S2CID 53176210.
  5. ^ a b Webb, Katelynn. "Galerella sanguinea (slender mongoose)". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Galerella sanguinea.
Wikispecies has information related to Galerella sanguinea.
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Extant Carnivora species
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Viverrinae
sensu lato
Viverrinae
sensu stricto
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Viverra
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Genettinae
Poiana
(African linsangs)
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Genetta
(genets)
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Herpestoidea
    • see below↓
Hyaenidae
(hyenas)
Proteles
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Hyaeninae
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Crocuta
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Herpestidae sensu lato
Eupleridae
(Malagasy
carnivorans)
Euplerinae
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Eupleres
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Galidiinae
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Galidictis
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Salanoia
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Herpestidae
sensu stricto

(mongooses)
Mungotinae
Suricata
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Mungos
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Helogale
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Crossarchus
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Herpestinae
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Urva
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Bdeogale
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Herpestes
  • Angolan slender mongoose (H. flavescens)
  • Egyptian mongoose (H. ichneumon)
  • Somalian slender mongoose (H. ochracea)
  • Cape gray mongoose (H. pulverulenta)
  • Common slender mongoose (H. sanguinea)
Caniformia ("dog-like" carnivorans)
Canidae (dogs)
Urocyon
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Canina
(wolf-like canids)
Lupulella
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Canis
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Ursidae
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Ailuropoda
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Tremarctos
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Ursinae
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Ursus
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Mustelida
Pinnipedia (seals)
    • see below↓
Musteloidea
    • see below↓
Pinnipedia (seals)
Odobenidae
  • Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus)

Otariidae
(eared seals:
fur seals,
sea lions)
Callorhinus
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Otariinae
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Zalophus
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Neophoca
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Arctocephalus
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Phocidae
(earless seals
or true seals)
Phocinae
("northern seals")
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Phocini
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Phoca
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Pusa
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Monachinae
("southern seals")
Monachini
(monk seals)
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Neomonachus
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Mirounga
(elephant seals)
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Lobodontini
(Antarctic seals)
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Ailuridae
  • Red panda (Ailurus fulgens)
Mephitidae
(skunks)
Conepatus
(hog-nosed skunks)
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Mephitis
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Mydaus
(stink badgers)
  • Sunda stink badger (M. javanensis)
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Spilogale
(spotted skunks)
  • Southern spotted skunk (S. angustifrons)
  • Western spotted skunk (S. gracilis)
  • Eastern spotted skunk (S. putorius)
  • Pygmy spotted skunk (S. pygmaea)
Procyonidae
  • Kinkajou (Potos flavus)
Bassariscus
  • Ringtail (B. astutus)
  • Cacomistle (B. sumichrasti)
Procyon
(raccoons)
  • Crab-eating raccoon (P. cancrivorus)
  • Raccoon (P. lotor)
  • Cozumel raccoon (P. pygmaeus)
Bassaricyon
(olingos)
  • Eastern lowland olingo (B. alleni)
  • Northern olingo (B. gabbii)
  • Western lowland olingo (B. medius)
  • Olinguito (B. neblina)
Nasuina
(coatis)
Nasua
  • South American coati (N. nasua)
  • White-nosed coati (N. narica)
Nasuella
  • Eastern mountain coati (N. meridensis)
  • Western mountain coati (N. olivacea)
Mustelidae
    • see below↓
  • American badger (Taxidea taxus)
Mellivora
  • Honey badger (M. capensis)
Melinae
(Eurasian badgers)
Arctonyx
  • Northern hog badger (A. albogularis)
  • Greater hog badger (A. collaris)
  • Sumatran hog badger (A. hoevenii)
Meles
  • Japanese badger (M. anakuma)
  • Caucasian badger (M. canescens)
  • Asian badger (M. leucurus)
  • European badger (M. meles)
Melogale
(ferret-badgers)
  • Vietnam ferret-badger (M. cucphuongensis)
  • Bornean ferret badger (M. everetti)
  • Chinese ferret-badger (M. moschata)
  • Javan ferret-badger (M. orientalis)
  • Burmese ferret-badger (M. personata)
  • Formosan ferret-badger (M. subaurantiaca)
Guloninae
  • Tayra (Eira barbara)
Pekania
  • Fisher (P. pennanti)
Gulo
  • Wolverine (G. gulo)
Martes
(martens)
  • American marten (M. americana)
  • Pacific marten (M. caurina)
  • Yellow-throated marten (M. flavigula)
  • Beech marten (M. foina)
  • Nilgiri marten (M. gwatkinsii)
  • European pine marten (M. martes)
  • Japanese marten (M. melampus)
  • Sable (M. zibellina)
Ictonychinae
Lyncodontini
  • Patagonian weasel (Lyncodon patagonicus)
Galictis
(grisons)
  • Lesser grison (G. cuja)
  • Greater grison (G. vittata)
Ictonychini
(African polecats)
Vormela
  • Marbled polecat (V. peregusna)
  • African striped weasel (Poecilogale albinucha)
Ictonyx
  • Saharan striped polecat (I. libycus)
  • Striped polecat (I. striatus)
Lutrinae
(otters)
  • Giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis)
Lontra
  • North American river otter (L. canadensis)
  • Marine otter (L. felina)
  • Neotropical otter (L. longicaudis)
  • Southern river otter (L. provocax)
Enhydra
  • Sea otter (E. lutris)
  • Spotted-necked otter (Hydrictis maculicollis)
Lutra
  • Eurasian otter (L. lutra)
  • Hairy-nosed otter (L. sumatrana)
Lutrogale
  • Smooth-coated otter (L. perspicillata)
Aonyx
  • African clawless otter (A. capensis)
  • Asian small-clawed otter (A. cinereus)
  • Congo clawless otter (A. congicus)
Mustelinae
Neogale
  • Amazon weasel (N. africana)
  • Colombian weasel (N. felipei)
  • Long-tailed weasel (N. frenata)
  • American mink (N. vison)
Mustela
(weasels)
  • Sichuan weasel (M. aistoodonnivalis)
  • Mountain weasel (M. altaica)
  • Stoat/Beringian ermine (M. erminea)
  • Steppe polecat (M. eversmannii)
  • Ferret (M. furo)
  • Haida ermine (M. haidarum)
  • Japanese weasel (M. itatsi)
  • Yellow-bellied weasel (M. kathiah)
  • European mink (M. lutreola)
  • Indonesian mountain weasel (M. lutreolina)
  • Black-footed ferret (M. nigripes)
  • Least weasel (M. nivalis)
  • Malayan weasel (M. nudipes)
  • European polecat (M. putorius)
  • American ermine (M. richardsonii)
  • Siberian weasel (M. sibirica)
  • Back-striped weasel (M. strigidorsa)
Taxon identifiers
Galerella sanguinea
Herpestes sanguineus