Common Slender Mongoose
( the black-tipped mongoose or the black-tailed mongoose )
- Herpestes sanguineus
- IUCN Status: Least Concern
- Trend: stable
General Information
The common slender mongoose is the best tree climber as compared to other mongoose. It has up to 50 subspecies.
Description
As the name suggests, the common slender mongoose has a slender body and a blackened tail tip. The color 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. They also have silkier fur than the other African members of their family.
Fun Facts
The common slender mongoose is a sleek, solitary predator found across Zambia’s savannas, woodlands, and scrublands. Slightly larger than its dwarf cousin, this adaptable hunter is a master of stealth, using its serpentine body and lightning reflexes to take down prey—from insects to small vertebrates. Unlike social mongooses, it doesn’t vocalize much—relying on stealth over chatter.
Ecology & Behaviour
The common slender mongoose is primarily carnivorous, though it is an opportunistic omnivore. It’s diet consists of mostly Insects, other options include: lizards, rodents, snakes, birds, amphibians, fruits, 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.
Common slender mongooses are more adept at climbing trees than other mongooses, often hunting birds there.
Distribution & Habitat
The common slendermongoose can be found throughout Africa and can adapt and live almost anywhere. They inhabit various woodland types. They are much rarer in densely forested areas and deserts.
Diet
The common slender mongoose is primarily carnivorous, though it is an opportunistic omnivore. It’s diet consists of mostly Insects, other options include: lizards, rodents, snakes, birds, amphibians, fruits, 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.
Common slender mongooses are more adept at climbing trees than other mongooses, often hunting birds there.
Reproduction
The common slender mongoose is primarily carnivorous, though it is an opportunistic omnivore. It’s diet consists of mostly Insects, other options include: lizards, rodents, snakes, birds, amphibians, fruits, 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.
Common slender mongooses are more adept at climbing trees than other mongooses, often hunting birds there.
Conservation
It is listed as “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red list.
Interaction with Humans
The common 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. It is in no immediate danger of extinction
References
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- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Carnivora
- Suborder: Feliformia
- Family: Herpestidae
- Genus: Herpestes
- Length: 27.5 to 40 cm
- Weight: 460 to 715 g
