Banded mongoose

• Class: Mammals (Mammalia)
• Order: Carnivores (Carnivora)
• Family: Mongooses (Herpestidae)
• Genus: Mungos
• Species: Mungos mungo

Size

The banded mongoose weighs approximately 1.6 kg.

Ecology

The banded mongoose, like the closely related meerkat, lives on the African savanna, both species possessing similar behaviours and living habits. Banded mongooses are diurnal (active during the day) and gregarious, whereby they live in packs varying in number from 10 to 30 members. Usually, their burrows are dug out in disused termite mounds, and the territory is scent-marked by both males and females with excretions of the anal scent-glands.
Banded mongooses forage for food individually, however, they have been observed to hunt cooperatively in order to kill more formidable prey like large sand snakes. They also cooperate with each other to defend themselves against large predators, like birds of prey and jackals. A single individual assumes the characteristic standing position and scans the surroundings for possible approaching danger as the remainder of the group continues to forage.

Food habits

The banded mongoose primarily eats insects a swell as fruits and other, smaller vertebrates. It is able to consume poisonous snakes without being affected by their poison.

Longevity

Banded mongooses live for 10 to 12 years.

Reproduction

Reproduction within a pack is often synchronised, and following a 2-month gestation, the females give birth within several days of each other. Each female mongoose’s litter produces between 2 and 6 young. The young are born in grass-lined burrows, other such holes in the ground, or disused termite mounds.

Conservation status

The banded mongoose is widespread and not endangered at present.