White Tailed Mongoose
- Ichneumia albicauda
- IUCN Status: Least Concern
- Trend: decreasing
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Carnivora
- Suborder: Feliformia
- Family: Herpestidae
- Genus: Ichneumia
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General Information
The white tailed mongoose has the longest legs of any mongoose and arguably heavier than any other mongoose. It is widespread throughout Africa.
Fun Facts!
Description
- Length: 53 to 71 cm
- Weight: 1.8 to 5.2 kg
Ecology and Behaviour
The white-tailed mongoose is primarily nocturnal and terrestrial. By day they will rest in an abandoned burrow, termite mound, or in cavities under tree roots. 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. These mongooses do not migrate except to establish their own territory away from their mother’s range.
Conservation
It is listed as “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red list.
Distribution and Habitat
The white tailed mongoose can be found throughout Africa and can adapt and live almost anywhere. It prefers areas of thick cover, such as the edges of forests and brushy streams.
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. They have been known to raid chicken houses in areas where domestic poultry is raised.
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