Slender Mongoose
Encyclopedia
The Slender Mongoose also known as the Black-tipped Mongoose or the Black-tailed Mongoose, is a very common species of mongoose
.
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. They are much rarer in densely-forested areas and desert
s.
The colour of their fur 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.
, 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 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.
. The gestation
period is believed to be 60 to 70 days, and most pregnancies result in one to three (usually two) young. The male does not help care for them.
. 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.
Slender Mongooses are more adept at climbing trees than other mongooses, and will often hunt birds there.
Overall, the Slender Mongoose is in no immediate danger of extinction, and the IUCN Red List
evaluated it as least concern
.http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/41606/all
Mongoose
Mongoose are a family of 33 living species of small carnivorans from southern Eurasia and mainland Africa. Four additional species from Madagascar in the subfamily Galidiinae, which were previously classified in this family, are also referred to as "mongooses" or "mongoose-like"...
.
Range and habitat
The Slender Mongoose and up to fifty subspeciesSubspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
are found throughout sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa as a geographical term refers to the area of the African continent which lies south of the Sahara. A political definition of Sub-Saharan Africa, instead, covers all African countries which are fully or partially located south of the Sahara...
. They are adaptable and can live nearly anywhere in this wide range, but are most common in the savannah
Savannah
Savannah or savanna is a type of grassland.It can also mean:-People:* Savannah King, a Canadian freestyle swimmer* Savannah Outen, a singer who gained popularity on You Tube...
and semiarid plains. They are much rarer in densely-forested areas and desert
Desert
A desert is a landscape or region that receives an extremely low amount of precipitation, less than enough to support growth of most plants. Most deserts have an average annual precipitation of less than...
s.
Description
As the name suggests, the Slender Mongoose has a lithe body of 27.5-40 cm (11-16 in) and a long tail of 23-33 cm (9-13 in). Males weigh 640-715 g (22-25 oz), while the smaller females weigh 460-575 g (16-20 oz).The colour of their fur 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.
Behavior
The Slender Mongoose generally lives either alone or in pairs. It is primarily diurnalDiurnal animal
Diurnality is a plant or animal behavior characterized by activity during the day and sleeping at night.-In animals:Animals that are not diurnal might be nocturnal or crepuscular . Many animal species are diurnal, including many mammals, insects, reptiles and birds...
, 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 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 will include the ranges of several females, and scent cues inform him when the female is in heatEstrous cycle
The estrous cycle comprises the recurring physiologic changes that are induced by reproductive hormones in most mammalian placental females. Estrous cycles start after puberty in sexually mature females and are interrupted by anestrous phases or pregnancies...
. The gestation
Gestation
Gestation is the carrying of an embryo or fetus inside a female viviparous animal. Mammals during pregnancy can have one or more gestations at the same time ....
period is believed to be 60 to 70 days, and most pregnancies result in one to three (usually two) young. The male does not help care for them.
Feeding
The Slender Mongoose is primarily carnivorous, though it is an opportunistic omnivoreOmnivore
Omnivores are species that eat both plants and animals as their primary food source...
. 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
Carrion
Carrion refers to the carcass of a dead animal. Carrion is an important food source for large carnivores and omnivores in most ecosystems. Examples of carrion-eaters include vultures, hawks, eagles, hyenas, Virginia Opossum, Tasmanian Devils, coyotes, Komodo dragons, and burying beetles...
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.
Slender Mongooses are more adept at climbing trees than other mongooses, and will often hunt birds there.
Conservation
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, although some subspecies may be threatened.Overall, the Slender Mongoose is in no immediate danger of extinction, and the IUCN Red List
IUCN Red List
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species , founded in 1963, is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature is the world's main authority on the conservation status of species...
evaluated it as least concern
Least Concern
Least Concern is an IUCN category assigned to extant taxon or lower taxa which have been evaluated but do not qualify for any other category. As such they do not qualify as threatened, Near Threatened, or Conservation Dependent...
.http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/41606/all