Herpestidae is a family of mammals in the order Carnivora, composed of the mongooses and the meerkat. A member of this family is called a mongoose or a herpestid. They are widespread primarily throughout Africa and south Asia, and are found primarily in forests, savannas, shrublands, and grasslands, though some species can be found in wetlands or deserts. Most mongooses are 30–60 cm (12–24 in) long, plus a 20–40 cm (8–16 in) tail, though the Ethiopian dwarf mongoose can be as small as 18 cm (7 in) plus a 12 cm (5 in) tail, and the white-tailed mongoose can be up to 104 cm (41 in) plus a 47 cm (14 in) tail. Most species do not have population estimates, though one, the Liberian mongoose, is classified as vulnerable with a population size of around 5,000. No herpestid species have been domesticated.
The 34 species of Herpestidae are split into 14 genera within 2 subfamilies: Herpestinae, comprising 23 extant species that are native to southern Europe, Africa and Asia, and Mungotinae, comprising 11 extant species native to Africa. Extinct species have also been placed into both subfamilies, though some older extinct species have not been categorized into a subfamily. Around ten extinct Herpestidae species have been discovered, though due to ongoing research and discoveries the exact number and categorization is not fixed. Herpestidae is believed to have diverged from the existing Feliformia suborder around 21.8 million years ago in the Early Miocene. [1]
Conservation status | |
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EX | Extinct (0 species) |
EW | Extinct in the wild (0 species) |
CR | Critically Endangered (0 species) |
EN | Endangered (0 species) |
VU | Vulnerable (1 species) |
NT | Near threatened (3 species) |
LC | Least concern (29 species) |
Other categories | |
DD | Data deficient (1 species) |
NE | Not evaluated (0 species) |
Conservation status codes listed follow the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Range maps are provided wherever possible; if a range map is not available, a description of the herpestid's range is provided. Ranges are based on the IUCN Red List for that species unless otherwise noted.
The family Herpestidae consists of 34 extant species belonging to 15 genera in 2 subfamilies and divided into dozens of extant subspecies. This does not include hybrid species or extinct prehistoric species.
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The following classification is based on the taxonomy described by Mammal Species of the World (2005), with augmentation by proposals accepted by the American Society of Mammalogists since using molecular phylogenetic analysis. [2] [3]
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
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Marsh mongoose | A. paludinosus (G. Cuvier, 1829) Eleven subspecies
| Sub-Saharan Africa | Size: 46–64 cm (18–25 in) long, plus 31–41 cm (12–16 in) tail [4] Habitat: Forest, grassland, inland wetlands, neritic marine, and coastal marine [5] Diet: Crustaceans as well as other aquatic prey and rodents [5] | LC
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Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
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Black-footed mongoose | B. nigripes Pucheran, 1855 | Central Africa | Size: 45–65 cm (18–26 in) long, plus 30–40 cm (12–16 in) tail [4] Habitat: Forest [6] Diet: Mammals, as well as reptiles, birds, insects, and centipedes [6] | LC
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Bushy-tailed mongoose | B. crassicauda Peters, 1852 Five subspecies
| Southeast Africa | Size: 36–52 cm (14–20 in) long, plus 22–29 cm (9–11 in) tail [4] Habitat: Forest, savanna, and shrubland [7] Diet: Omnivorous [7] | LC
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Jackson's mongoose | B. jacksoni (Thomas, 1894) | East-central Africa | Size: 50–58 cm (20–23 in) long, plus 28–33 cm (11–13 in) tail [4] Habitat: Forest [8] Diet: Rodents and insects [4] [8] | NT
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Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
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Yellow mongoose | C. penicillata (Cuvier, 1829) Twelve subspecies
| Southern Africa | Size: 26–46 cm (10–18 in) long, plus 16–30 cm (6–12 in) tail [4] Habitat: Savanna, shrubland, and grassland [9] Diet: Insects, as well as rodents, birds, other vertebrates, and arachnids [9] | LC
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Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
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Angolan slender mongoose | H. flavescens Bocage, 1889 Two subspecies
| Southwestern Africa | Size: 31–36 cm (12–14 in) long, plus 31–37 cm (12–15 in) tail [10] Habitat: Shrubland and rocky areas [11] Diet: Invertebrates, small mammals, birds, lizards, and snakes [11] | LC
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Egyptian mongoose | H. ichneumon (Linnaeus, 1758) Eleven subspecies
| Sub-Saharan Africa, Nile river, and Mediterranean (native, green); Iberian peninsula (introduced, red) | Size: 48–60 cm (19–24 in) long, plus 33–55 cm (13–22 in) tail [12] Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, grassland, and inland wetlands [13] Diet: Omnivorous [13] | LC
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Cape gray mongoose | H. pulverulentus Wagner, 1839 Three subspecies
| Southern Africa | Size: 29–43 cm (11–17 in) long, plus 20–34 cm (8–13 in) tail [14] Habitat: Shrubland and inland wetlands [15] Diet: Small mammals and insects [15] | LC
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Common slender mongoose | H. sanguineus Rüppell, 1836 26 subspecies
| Sub-Saharan Africa | Size: 27–35 cm (11–14 in) long, plus 19–33 cm (7–13 in) tail [10] Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, and grassland [16] Diet: Small vertebrates and invertebrates [16] | LC
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Somalian slender mongoose | H. ochraceus Gray, 1848 Four subspecies
| Eastern Africa | Size: 25–29 cm (10–11 in) long, plus 22–28 cm (9–11 in) tail [10] Habitat: Shrubland and desert [17] Diet: Believed to be invertebrates and small vertebrates [10] [17] | LC
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Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
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White-tailed mongoose | I. albicauda (Cuvier, 1829) Seven subspecies
| Sub-Saharan Africa, southern Arabic peninsula | Size: 51–104 cm (20–41 in) long, plus 34–47 cm (13–19 in) tail [4] Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, grassland, and inland wetlands [18] Diet: Insects [18] | LC
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Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
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Selous's mongoose | P. selousi (Winton, 1896) Four subspecies
| Southern Africa | Size: 63–90 cm (25–35 in) long, plus 28–43 cm (11–17 in) tail [19] Habitat: Savanna and grassland [20] Diet: Invertebrates, as well as small rodents, amphibians, reptiles, and birds [19] [20] | LC
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Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
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Meller's mongoose | R. melleri (Gray, 1865) Two subspecies
| Southeastern Africa | Size: 36–57 cm (14–22 in) long, plus 30–42 cm (12–17 in) tail [4] Habitat: Forest, savanna, and shrubland [21] Diet: Termites, as well as other invertebrates [4] [21] | LC
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Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
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Collared mongoose | U. semitorquata (Gray, 1846) Two subspecies
| Borneo in Southeast Asia | Size: 40–46 cm (16–18 in) long, plus 25–31 cm (10–12 in) tail [10] Habitat: Forest [22] Diet: Unknown [10] [22] | NT
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Crab-eating mongoose | U. urva (Hodgson, 1836) Four subspecies
| Eastern and Southeast Asia | Size: 45–50 cm (18–20 in) long, plus 25–30 cm (10–12 in) tail [23] Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and grassland [24] Diet: Crustaceans, mammals, reptiles, insects, and amphibians [24] | LC
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Indian brown mongoose | U. fusca (Waterhouse, 1838) Five subspecies
| South India, Sri Lanka | Size: 33–48 cm (13–19 in) long, plus 20–33 cm (8–13 in) tail [23] Habitat: Forest and grassland [25] Diet: Believed to be a variety of small vertebrates and invertebrates [10] [25] | LC
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Indian grey mongoose | U. edwardsii (Geoffroy, 1818) Five subspecies
| India, west Asia | Size: 36–45 cm (14–18 in) long, plus 32–45 cm (13–18 in) tail [23] Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and grassland [26] Diet: Small mammals, birds, reptiles, eggs, and invertebrates [10] [26] | LC
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Javan mongoose | U. javanica (Geoffroy, 1818) Nine subspecies
| Southeast Asia | Size: 25–37 cm (10–15 in) long, plus 24–27 cm (9–11 in) tail [27] Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, grassland, and inland wetlands [28] Diet: Invertebrates, as well as rodents, birds, snakes, lizards, frogs, fish, and fruit [27] [28] | LC
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Small Indian mongoose | U. auropunctata (Hodgson, 1836) Three subspecies
| West, south, and southeast Asia | Size: 25–37 cm (10–15 in) long, plus 24–27 cm (9–11 in) tail [27] Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, grassland, and inland wetlands [28] Diet: Invertebrates, as well as rodents, birds, snakes, lizards, frogs, fish, and fruit [27] [28] | LC
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Ruddy mongoose | U. smithii (Gray, 1837) Three subspecies
| India and Sri Lanka | Size: 39–45 cm (15–18 in) long, plus 35–47 cm (14–19 in) tail [23] Habitat: Forest and shrubland [29] Diet: Rodents, birds, and reptiles [10] [29] | LC
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Short-tailed mongoose | U. brachyura (Gray, 1837) Six subspecies
| Southeast Asia | Size: 38–45 cm (15–18 in) long, plus 20–25 cm (8–10 in) tail [30] Habitat: Forest and shrubland [31] Diet: Invertebrates and small vertebrates [31] | NT
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Stripe-necked mongoose | U. vitticolla (Bennett, 1835) Two subspecies
| Southern India and Sri Lanka | Size: 25–41 cm (10–16 in) long, plus 22–36 cm (9–14 in) tail [23] Habitat: Forest and shrubland [32] Diet: Small mammals, birds, birds' eggs, reptiles, fish, insects, and roots [32] | LC
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Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
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Long-nosed mongoose | X. naso (Winton, 1901) | Central Africa | Size: 40–61 cm (16–24 in) long, plus 32–43 cm (13–17 in) tail [4] Habitat: Forest and inland wetlands [33] Diet: Omnivorous [33] | LC
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Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
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Alexander's kusimanse | C. alexandri Thomas, 1907 | Central Africa | Size: 37–44 cm (15–17 in) long, plus 24–32 cm (9–13 in) tail [4] Habitat: Forest [34] Diet: Invertebrates and fruit, as well as frogs, snakes, and carrion [4] [34] | LC
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Angolan kusimanse | C. ansorgei Thomas, 1910 Two subspecies
| Central Africa | Size: 32–35 cm (13–14 in) long, plus 20–22 cm (8–9 in) tail [4] Habitat: Forest [35] Diet: Insects, small vertebrates, and eggs [4] [35] | LC
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Common kusimanse | C. obscurus F. Cuvier, 1825 | Western Africa | Size: 29–37 cm (11–15 in) long, plus 14–21 cm (6–8 in) tail [4] Habitat: Forest and savanna [4] [36] Diet: Insects, as well as reptiles, small mammals, and fruit [36] | LC
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Flat-headed kusimanse | C. platycephalus Goldman, 1984 | Western central Africa | Size: 21–47 cm (8–19 in) long, plus 15–21 cm (6–8 in) tail [37] Habitat: Forest and inland wetlands [38] Diet: Insects, as well as reptiles, small mammals, and fruit [4] [38] | LC
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Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
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Pousargues's mongoose | D. dybowskii (Pousargues, 1893) | Central Africa | Size: 24–30 cm (9–12 in) long, plus 16–22 cm (6–9 in) tail [4] Habitat: Forest, savanna, and grassland [39] Diet: Invertebrates [4] [39] | DD
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Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
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Common dwarf mongoose | H. parvula (Sundevall, 1847) Seven subspecies
| Southern and eastern Africa | Size: 18–23 cm (7–9 in) long, plus 14–19 cm (6–7 in) tail [4] Habitat: Savanna and grassland [40] Diet: Arthropods, as well as small vertebrates [40] | LC
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Ethiopian dwarf mongoose | H. hirtula Thomas, 1904 Five subspecies
| Eastern Africa | Size: 18–26 cm (7–10 in) long, plus 12–20 cm (5–8 in) tail [41] Habitat: Savanna, shrubland, and grassland [42] Diet: Invertebrates [4] [42] | LC
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Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
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Liberian mongoose | L. kuhni Hayman, 1958 | Western Africa | Size: 42–55 cm (17–22 in) long, plus 18–21 cm (7–8 in) tail [4] Habitat: Forest [43] Diet: Earthworms, as well as small vertebrates, insect larvae, and fruit [43] | VU
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Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
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Banded mongoose | M. mungo (Gmelin, 1788) Sixteen subspecies
| Sub-Saharan Africa | Size: 30–40 cm (12–16 in) long, plus 19–31 cm (7–12 in) tail [4] Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, and grassland [44] Diet: Insects, as well as other invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians, bird eggs, young birds, small mammals, and fruit [44] | LC
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Gambian mongoose | M. gambianus (Ogilby, 1835) | Western Africa | Size: 34–36 cm (13–14 in) long, plus 20–22 cm (8–9 in) tail [4] Habitat: Forest and savanna [45] Diet: Insects, as well as lizards, mice, and snakes [4] [45] | LC
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Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
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Meerkat | S. suricatta (Schreber, 1776) Three subspecies
| Southern Africa | Size: 23–36 cm (9–14 in) long, plus 18–24 cm (7–9 in) tail [4] Habitat: Savanna, shrubland, grassland, and desert [46] Diet: Invertebrates [46] | LC
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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.
The crab-eating mongoose is a species of mongoose found from the north-eastern Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia to southern China and Taiwan. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
The Angolan kusimanse, also known as Ansorge's kusimanse, is a species of small mongoose. There are two recognized subspecies: C. a. ansorgei, found in Angola; and C. a. nigricolor, found in DR Congo, which do not have overlapping ranges. It prefers rainforest type habitat, and avoids regions inhabited by humans. It grows to 12–18 inches in length, with a 6–10 inch long tail, and weighs 1–3 lb. Little is known about this species of kusimanse, and there are no estimates of its wild population numbers or status. Until 1984, the species was only known from two specimens from Baringa but are now thought to be quite common in some regions. Threats are probably habitat loss and bushmeat hunting. However, this species is protected by Salonga National Park.
Alexander's kusimanse is a mongoose species native to Central African rainforests up to an elevation of 2,900 m (9,500 ft).
The bushy-tailed mongoose is a mammal in the family Herpestidae found in central Africa, from southern Kenya to central Mozambique.
Jackson's mongoose is a mongoose species native to montane forests in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. It appears to be rare and has been classified as Near Threatened since 2008.
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.
The flat-headed kusimanse is a mongoose species endemic to West African rainforests. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List since 2008.
Pousargues's mongoose, also known as the African tropical savannah mongoose, is a mongoose native to Central Africa. It is listed as data deficient on the IUCN Red List as little is known about its distribution and ecology. It is the only species in the genus Dologale.
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.
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.
Genettinae is a subfamily of the feliform viverrids. It contains all of the genet species and the oyan species.