Mongooses are small, primarily meat-eating mammals known for their slender bodies, pointed snouts, small ears, short legs, and bushy tails. Though they are similar in look and lifestyle to weasels (family Mustelidae), these animals are classified under the family Herpestidae. They comprise 35 living species distributed across Africa, Europe, and Asia.
These animals live in various terrestrial habitats, such as deserts, tropical forests, grasslands, and scrublands, as well as in marshy waters. Though mostly solitary, some species, like meerkats, live in social groups or colonies of up to 50 individuals. They forage during the day and mostly consume insects, earthworms, crabs, lizards, rodents, and birds.
They are one of the few natural predators that can take on venomous snakes like king cobras. This remarkable ability comes from their innate resistance to snake venom and their agility, which helps them attack quickly and escape after biting the snake’s skull.
On average, mongooses range between 24 to 58 cm (9.4 to 22.8 in) in body length (excluding the tail). They weigh between 320 g (11 oz) and 5 kg (11 lb).
The largest species, the white-tailed mongoose, has a body length of around 48 to 71 cm (19 to 28 in), whereas the smallest, the dwarf mongoose, is around 17 to 24 cm (7 to 10 in) long.
These animals have elongated bodies with long heads, pointed noses, small round ears, and bushy, furry tails. They have short legs with five toes on each foot, equipped with non-retractile claws.
Their fur ranges in color from gray to brown and is often grizzled or brindled, resembling a subtle tiger-like pattern. Some species also display distinct markings, such as stripes on their legs or ringed tails, similar to those seen in mustelids. Notably, their eyes feature narrow, oval-shaped pupils, much like those of goats.
Males possess a short and smooth penis with a penile bone or baculum, and the females have an elongated urethral opening on their undersides. Additionally, most mongooses possess an anal gland that releases a secretion used for scent-marking territories and asserting sexual receptivity.
They have long and flat skulls with a clear distinction between the ectotympanic and entotympanic parts of the bullae.
The dental formula for this group is 3.1.3-4.1-2/3.1.3-4.1-2 = 32-40.
In India, these animals have been called by various names for centuries, including muṅgūs, maṅgūs, mungisa, mungi, mungisi, and munguli. The English word ‘mongoose’ is derived from these traditional Indian terms. Since 1698, the English name adopted the suffix -goose through folk etymology. In the 18th and 19th centuries, they were also referred to as ‘mungooses.’
In 1864, British zoologist John Edward Gray classified these animals into 3 subfamilies: Galidiinae, Herpestinae, and Mungotinae. Currently, the 35 extant species are grouped under 2 subfamilies (Herpestinae and Mungotinae) and 15 genera.
Some extinct mongooses include members of the genera Leptoplesictis and species like Herpestes lemanensis and Atilax mesotes.
While members of the subfamily Herpestinae are native to southern Europe, Africa, and southern Asia, those of Mungotinae are native to Africa.
Most mongooses occupy a range of terrestrial habitats, including deserts, tropical forests, grasslands, and scrublands. However, some, like the marsh mongoose, are semi-aquatic and live partially in marshy waters.
They typically feed on insects, earthworms, crabs, lizards, rodents, and birds. Additionally, they consume fruits, eggs, and hatchlings of birds and sea turtles, as well as decaying carrion.
Most mongooses are active during the day and rest at night. They typically live in burrows either singly or in pairs. However, some, like the banded mongoose and meerkats, are extremely social and exist in large groups or colonies of over 50 individuals called ‘packs’ or ‘mobs.’
These mammals generally live between 6 to 10 years in the wild, but in captivity, they survive up to 20 years.
Although the reproductive behavior of mongooses remains largely understudied, it is generally believed that they breed during two main periods: from March to May and again from October to December.
After a gestation period of about 42 to 105 days, the females give birth to one to four offspring (pups). These young become sexually mature at around 9 months to 2 years of age.
They are preyed upon by snakes, like cobra and grass snakes, and birds of prey, including eagles, hawks, and Marabou storks. Moreover, they also fall prey to jackals, hyenas, and big cats, like lions and leopards.
Mongooses possess mutations in the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor gene, preventing snake venom α-neurotoxins from binding to the modified receptors. As a result, venomous snake bites have little to no harmful effect on them.
In the 1800s, mongooses were intentionally introduced to several islands, including Hawaii and the West Indies, to manage pest populations on plantations. However, they soon became an invasive species, outcompeting native wildlife and causing an alarming decline in bird populations.
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