Herpestes

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Herpestes
Temporal range: Oligocene to present
Herpestes ichneumon Egipetskii mangust, ili faraonova krysa, ili ikhnevmon.jpg
Egyptian mongoose
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Feliformia
Family: Herpestidae
Subfamily: Herpestinae
Genus: Herpestes
Illiger, 1811
Type species
Mustela ichneumon [1]
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Species

see table

Synonyms
  • Galerella Gray, 1864
  • Ophiovora

Herpestes is a genus within the mongoose family Herpestidae. Several species in the family are known as slender mongooses. It is the type genus of the family, and comprises 5-6 living species, each with several subspecies. Fossil remains of three prehistoric species were excavated in France, and described in 1853.

Contents

Characteristics

The living Herpestes species are sexually dimorphic, with females smaller than males. They range in weight from 0.6 to 3.6 kg (1.3 to 7.9 lb). [2] They share several characteristics, including the shape of the cheek teeth and of the tympanic bullae, and the presence of the first upper molar teeth. They are all solitary. [3] Males have one chromosome less than females, as one Y chromosome is translocated to an autosome. [4]

Classification

The scientific name Herpestes was proposed by Johann Karl Wilhelm Illiger in 1811 for mongoose species in the south of the Old World, commonly called "Ichneumon" at the time. [5] Until 1835, 12 mongoose species from Africa and Asia were classified as belonging to the genus Herpestes. [6] In 1864, John Edward Gray listed 22 Herpestes species, which he considered as part of the Viverridae. [7] In 1882, Oldfield Thomas reviewed African mongoose zoological specimens in natural history museums. He subordinated those into the genus Herpestes that have nearly naked soles, four premolars, small last lower molars with two external cusps and whose last upper molars are 40-60% smaller than the last upper premolars. His list comprised eight species in Africa. [8] St. George Jackson Mivart listed 21 Herpestes species, including seven in Africa and 13 in Asia. He also determined Herpestes species by the dentition of mongoose specimens. His criteria included small premolars, small inner cusps of the third upper premolars and transversely extended second upper molars with rather concave posterior margins; their bodies are long with long tails, short legs and five digits to each paw. [9] Wallace Christopher Wozencraft recognised 10 Herpestes species as valid in 2005. [1]

The extinct Herpestes lemanensis was excavated in tertiary depositions in the Loire Valley in central France and described in 1853. [10] It most likely dates to the Late Oligocene. [11]

Phylogenetic analysis of African and Asian mongoose specimens revealed that they belong to three distinct genetic lineages; the two African lineages diverged in the Early Miocene around 19.1  million years ago and 18.5  million years ago, and the Asian Urva lineage at around 17.4  million years ago. The following African mongooses are now placed in the genus Herpestes: [12]

ImageNameDistribution and IUCN Red List status
PikiWiki Israel 35896 three brothers.JPG Egyptian mongoose (H. ichneumon) (Linnaeus, 1758) [13] LC [14]
Egyptian Mongoose area.png
2009-slender-mongoose.jpg Common slender mongoose (H. sanguineus) Rüppell, 1835 [6] LC [15]
Slender Mongoose area.png
Cape Gray Mongoose on Lion's Head (29813836777).jpg Cape gray mongoose (H. pulverulentus) (Wagner, 1839) [16] LC [17]
Cape Gray Mongoose area.png
HerpestesOchraceusWolf.jpg Somalian slender mongoose (H. ochraceus) Gray, 1848 [18] LC [19]
Somali Slender Mongoose area.png
Galerella flavescens.jpg Angolan slender mongoose (H. flavescens) (Bocage, 1889) [20] LC [21]
Angolan Slender Mongoose area.png

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carnivora</span> Order of mammals

Carnivora is an order of placental mammals that have specialized in primarily eating flesh, whose members are formally referred to as carnivorans. The order Carnivora is the fifth largest order of mammals, comprising at least 279 species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mongoose</span> Family of mammals in Africa and Asia

A mongoose is a small terrestrial carnivorous mammal belonging to the family Herpestidae. This family is currently split into two subfamilies, the Herpestinae and the Mungotinae. The Herpestinae comprises 23 living species that are native to southern Europe, Africa and Asia, whereas the Mungotinae comprises 11 species native to Africa. The Herpestidae originated about 21.8 ± 3.6 million years ago in the Early Miocene and genetically diverged into two main genetic lineages between 19.1 and 18.5 ± 3.5 million years ago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Viverridae</span> Family of carnivorans

Viverridae is a family of small to medium-sized, feliform mammals. The viverrids comprise 33 species placed in 14 genera. This family was named and first described by John Edward Gray in 1821. Viverrids occur all over Africa, southern Europe, and South and Southeast Asia, across the Wallace Line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genet (animal)</span> Genus of carnivorans

A genet is a member of the genus Genetta, which consists of 17 species of small African carnivorans. The common genet is the only genet present in Europe and occurs in the Iberian Peninsula, Italy and France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crab-eating mongoose</span> Species of mongoose from Asia

The crab-eating mongoose is a mongoose species ranging from the northeastern Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia to southern China and Taiwan. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Egyptian mongoose</span> Species of mongoose from Africa and the Mediterranean

The Egyptian mongoose, also known as ichneumon, is a mongoose species native to the coastal regions along the Mediterranean Sea between North Africa and Turkey, tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands in Africa. Whether it is introduced or native to the Iberian Peninsula is in some doubt. Because of its widespread occurrence, it is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Galidiinae</span> Subfamily of carnivores

Galidiinae is a subfamily of carnivorans that is restricted to Madagascar and includes six species classified into four genera. Together with the three other species of indigenous Malagasy carnivorans, including the fossa, they are currently classified in the family Eupleridae within the suborder Feliformia. Galidiinae are the smallest of the Malagasy carnivorans, generally weighing about 600 to 900 g. They are agile, short-legged animals with long, bushy ringed tails.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black-footed mongoose</span> Species of mongoose from Central Africa

The black-footed mongoose is a mongoose species native to Central Africa, where it inhabits deep deciduous forests from eastern Nigeria to the southern Democratic Republic of the Congo. It has been listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List since 2008. It is omnivorous and feeds on ants, termites, Orthoptera, small rodents, frogs, lizards and fruits. It is mostly solitary and nocturnal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Javan mongoose</span> Species of mongoose from Asia

The Javan mongoose is a mongoose species native to Southeast Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-tailed mongoose</span> Species of mongoose from Africa

The white-tailed mongoose is a species in the mongoose family Herpestidae. It is the only member of the genus Ichneumia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liberian mongoose</span> Species of mongoose from West Africa

The Liberian mongoose is a mongoose species native to Liberia and Ivory Coast. It is the only member of the genus Liberiictis. Phylogenetic analysis shows it is closely related to other small, social mongooses and that the banded mongoose is its closest relative.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meller's mongoose</span> Species of mongoose from Africa

Meller's mongoose is a small brown mongoose native to savannas and woodlands of southeastern Africa. It is the only member of the genus Rhynchogale. The Meller's mongoose lives alone and is active at night, feeding on termites or other small insects and animals. While somewhat rare, it is adaptable and faces no serious threats. It is a member of the mongoose family (Herpestidae), a group of fox-like animals native to Asia, southern Europe, and Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Feliformia</span> Suborder of carnivores

Feliformia is a suborder within the order Carnivora consisting of "cat-like" carnivorans, including cats, hyenas, mongooses, viverrids, and related taxa. Feliformia stands in contrast to the other suborder of Carnivora, Caniformia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Collared mongoose</span> Species of mongoose from Southeast Asia

The collared mongoose is a mongoose species native to Borneo and Sumatra; its presence in the Philippines is uncertain. It is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brown-tailed mongoose</span> Species of carnivore

The brown-tailed mongoose, brown-tailed vontsira, Malagasy brown-tailed mongoose, or salano is a species of mammal in the family Eupleridae. It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitat is moist lowland tropical forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Viverrinae</span> Subfamily of carnivores

The Viverrinae represent the largest subfamily of the Viverridae comprising three genera, which are subdivided into six species native to Africa and Southeast Asia. This subfamily was denominated and first described by John Edward Gray in 1864.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paradoxurinae</span> Subfamily of carnivores

Paradoxurinae is a subfamily of the feliform viverrids that was denominated and first described by John Edward Gray in 1864. Pocock subordinated the genera Paradoxurus, Paguma and Arctictis to this subfamily.

<i>Urva</i> (genus) Genus of mongooses

Urva is a genus comprising the Asian mongooses within the mongoose family Herpestidae. Species in the genus were formerly classified in the genus Herpestes, which is now thought to comprise exclusively African mongooses; phylogenetic evidence indicates that the Asian mongooses form a monophyletic group and had an Asian common ancestor. Urva forms a clade with Xenogale and Atilax, while Herpestes forms a clade with all other African mongoose species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genettinae</span> Subfamily of carnivorans

Genettinae is a subfamily of the feliform viverrids. It contains all of the genet species and the oyan species.

References

  1. 1 2 Wozencraft, W. C. (2005). "Genus Herpestes". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 567–570. ISBN   978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC   62265494.
  2. ↑ Taylor, M.E. & Matheson, J. (1999). "A craniometric comparison of the African and Asian mongooses in the genus Herpestes (Carnivora: Herpestidae)". Mammalia. 63 (4): 449–464. doi:10.1515/mamm.1999.63.4.449. S2CID   84384697.
  3. ↑ Veron, G.; Colyn, M.; Dunham, A. E.; Taylor, P. & Gaubert, P. (2004). "Molecular systematics and origin of sociality in mongooses (Herpestidae, Carnivora)" (PDF). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 30 (3): 582–598. doi:10.1016/S1055-7903(03)00229-X. PMID   15012940.
  4. ↑ Fredga, K. (1977). "Chromosomal Changes in Vertebrate Evolution". Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences. 199 (1136): 377–397. doi:10.1098/rspb.1977.0148. JSTOR   77302. PMID   22865. S2CID   32364326.
  5. ↑ Illiger, C. (1815). "Überblick der Säugethiere nach ihrer Verteilung über die Welttheile" [Overview of mammals according to their distribution across the World]. Abhandlungen der physikalischen Klasse der Königlich-Preußischen Akademie der Wissenschaften. 1804−1811: 39−159.
  6. 1 2 Rüppell, E. (1835). "Herpestes. Illiger". Neue Wirbelthiere zu der Fauna von Abyssinien gehörig[New vertebrates belonging to the Fauna of Abyssinia] (in German). Frankfurt am Main: S. Schmerber. pp. 27–32.
  7. ↑ Gray, J.E. (1864). "A revision of the genera and species of Viverrine animals (Viverridae) founded on the collection in the British Museum". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London (November): 502–579.
  8. ↑ Thomas, O. (1882). "On the African Mungooses". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London (January): 59–93.
  9. ↑ Mivart, St. G. J. (1882). "On the Classification and Distribution of the Aeluroidea". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London (February): 135–270.
  10. ↑ Pomel, A. (1853). "Herpestes. Illig.". Catalogue méthodique et descriptif des vertébrés fossiles découverts dans le bassin hydrographique de la Loire. Paris: Baillière. pp. 64–66.
  11. ↑ Lydekker, R. (1887). "Herpestes lemanensis, Pomel". Catalogue of the fossil Mammalia in the British museum, (Natural History). Vol. 5, Supplement. London: British Museum (Natural History). p. 317.
  12. ↑ Patou, M.; Mclenachan, P.A.; Morley, C.G.; Couloux, A.; Jennings, A.P.; Veron, G. (2009). "Molecular phylogeny of the Herpestidae (Mammalia, Carnivora) with a special emphasis on the Asian Herpestes". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 53 (1): 69–80. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2009.05.038. PMID   19520178.
  13. ↑ Linnaeus, C. (1758). "Viverra ichneumon". Caroli Linnæi Systema naturæ per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis (in Latin). Vol. Tomus I (decima, reformata ed.). Holmiae: Laurentius Salvius. p. 41.
  14. ↑ Do Linh San, E.; Maddock, A.H.; Gaubert, P. & Palomares, F. (2016). "Herpestes ichneumon". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T41613A45207211.
  15. ↑ Do Linh San, E. & Maddock, A.H. (2016). "Herpestes sanguineus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T41606A45206143.
  16. ↑ Wagner, J.A. (1839). "Über die Verwandtschafts-Verhältnisse der Pharaonsratte". Gelehrte Anzeigen der Königlich Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu München. 9 (183): 425–429.
  17. ↑ Do Linh San, E. & Cavallini, P. (2015). "Herpestes pulverulentus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2015: e.T41600A45205999.
  18. ↑ Gray, J.E. (1848). "Description of a new species of Herpestes, from Abyssinia". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London (November): 138–139.
  19. ↑ Taylor, M.E. & Do Linh San, E. (2015). "Herpestes ochraceus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2015: e.T41605A86159385.
  20. ↑ Bocage, J.V.B. (1889). "Mammifère d'Angola et du Congo". Jornal de Sciencias mathematicas, physicas e naturaes. 2. 1: 174–185.
  21. ↑ Rapson, S. & Rathbun, G.B. (2015). "Herpestes flavescens". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2015: e.T41599A45205933. Retrieved 15 December 2021.


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