Common Slender Mongoose
( the black-tipped mongoose or the black-tailed mongoose )
- Herpestes sanguineus
- IUCN Status: Least Concern
- Trend: decreasing
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Carnivora
- Suborder: Feliformia
- Family: Herpestidae
- Genus: Herpestes
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General Information
The common slender mongoose is the best tree climber as compared to other mongoose. It has up to 50 subspecies.
Fun Facts!
Description
- Length: 27.5–40 cm
- Weight: 460 – 715 g
Ecology and 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.
Conservation
It is listed as “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red list.
Distribution and 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.
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
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