Egyptian Mongoose
( ichneumon )
- Herpestes ichneumon
- 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 Egyptian mongoose can be found throughout Africa and is thusly named due to the legends and statues of it that date back to the ancient Egyptian era. It is believed that they might have spread out from the nile river area to the rest of the continent seeing that they love being near water, springs and river areas.
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Description
- Length: 48–60 cm
- Weight: 1.7–4 kg
Ecology and Behaviour
The Egyptian mongoose can live solitary, in pairs or in groups of up to five individuals. They feed on insects, small reptiles, birds, Millipedes, ants, crickets, termites, grasshoppers, caterpillars, earwigs frogs, lizards, small snakes, ground birds and the eggs of both birds, reptiles and beetles. It attacks and feeds on venomous snakes and is resistant to the venom of some of the most deadly snake species.
Conservation
Because of its widespread occurrence, it is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List
Distribution and Habitat
The Egyptian mongoose is common throught Africa and lives in swampy and marshy habitats near streams, rivers, lakes and in coastal areas.
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. In west Africa they have been hunted for traditional medicine and other ritualistic uses.
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