Mongoose

Mongoose

The mongoose is a small cat-like carnivore native to most parts of Africa and certain areas of southern Europe and Asia. They were introduced to several other areas to help control rat and other pest populations, which usually proved detrimental to local plant and animal species.

There are 35 known species of mongoose and although size and appearance varies among species, they all have small, pointed faces with rounded ears. Their bodies are long and tubular with short legs and long, tapering tails. Most have brown or gray grizzled fur and some species are marked with stripes.

Fast Facts

Average life span: 7 to 12 years
Size: 1 to 4 feet long
Weight: 1 to 6 kilograms
Resistant to most venom
Mongoose hair is used to make paintbrushes
Illegal to import into the United States and many other countries

Behavior

Mongooses can occupy a variety of habitats, depending on species. Most are land-dwelling, but some species are semi-aquatic or arboreal. Some species, such as the meerkat live in large social groups, while others are solitary animals.

All mongooses are carnivorous, although some will include vegetable matter in their diets. They subsist mostly on insects, crabs, eggs, small lizards, birds and mammals.

Categories

Animals | Nature

| View Note History

The Mahalo Top 7

Wikipedia: Mongoose
Animal Diversity Web: Family Herpestidae: Mongoose
American Wildlife Federation: Dwarf Mongoose Smallest of the African Mongoose
Natural History Collections: Family Herpestidae: Mongoose
Wildlife Conservation Nepal: Mongoose Trade in Nepal
Lioncrusher's Domain: Egyptian Mongoose | Mongoose Species List and Information
YouTube Video: Mongoose Attacking an Asian Cobra (Time: 0:52)

Mongoose News and Articles

Daily Times: "Rent-a-Mongoose" (2007)
Kormorant: Let Wild Animals Be Readers (2007)
Live Science: The Mongoose: Nasty to Neighbors, Friendly to Strangers (2007)
Buzzle.com: The Mongoose – Courageous Snake Killer and Lovable Pet (2007)
Smithsonian Zoological National Park: National Zoo Opens New Banded Mongoose Exhibit (2006)
Science Daily: Africa's Least-known Carnivore In Tanzania: Mongoose Is One More Rare Find (2006)
Time: St. Louis Mongooses (1929)

Mongoose Background and Behavior

Comparative Mammalian Brain Collections: Yellow Mongoose Physical Characteristics and Distribution
PubMed Central: Fine Structure of the Dorsal Epithelium of the Mongoose Tongue
Smithsonian National Zoological Park: Banded Mongoose | Dark Mongoose | Dwarf Mongoose
World Biomes: Egyptian Mongoose Largest of the Mongoose Family
Animal Diversity Web: Egyptian Mongoose Physical Description
AgNIC Wildlife Damage Management: The Mongoose

Mongoose and Humans

Wildlife Trust of India: The Campaign Against the Use of Mongoose Hair in Paintbrushes
Instant Hawaii: Indian Mongoose, 'Iole Manakuke (e-oh-lay ma-na-coo-kay)
Honolulu Weekly: Mongoose Myths Dispelled in New Series (2007)
CaribbeanCricket.com: Mongoose Madness (2005)

Mongoose Fun Stuff

Enchanted Learning Center: Mongoose Printout
Miki Mongoose: Join Miki Mongoose on his Adventures in the Ryukyu Kingdom!
Carnegie Mellon: Rikki-tikki-tavi by Rudyard Kipling
IMDb: Rikki-Tikki-Tavi (1975)

Mongoose Photos and Videos

National Geographic: Video: Baby Mongoose Murder Mystery (Time: 6:42)
Animal Diversity Web: Mongoose Pictures
Google Image Search: Mongoose
Animal Web: Mongoose Video Search
Metacafe: Cobra vs Mongoose (Time: 00:69)

Mongoose Blogs and Forums

WILDwatch.com: Mongooses
Naturally Speaking: The Mongoose: A Maui Menace
The Portal on Carnivore Ecology and Conservation: The Black Mongoose
Kalyan Varma Photography: Mongoose From the Hide

Mongoose Books and Related Merchandise

Amazon.com: Mongoose Books
Barnes & Noble: Mongoose Books
Google Book Search: Mongoose Books

Related Pages on Mahalo

Lemur | Meerkat | Cobras | Leopards | Lions | Wolverines | Tigers | Mammals | Biology | Zoology | Animals | Otter

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