| White-tailed mongoose | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Herpestidae |
| Genus: | Ichneumia I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1837 |
| Species: | I. albicauda[1] |
| Binomial name | |
| Ichneumia albicauda[1] (G. Cuvier, 1829) | |
| Subspecies | |
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range of the white-tailed mongoose | |
Thewhite-tailed mongoose (Ichneumia albicauda) is a species in themongoose family Herpestidae. It is theonly member of the genusIchneumia.[3]
Herpestes albicaudus was thescientific name proposed byGeorges Cuvier in 1829 for a mongoose specimen with a white tail from Senegal.[4] The genus nameIchneumia was coined byIsidore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire in 1837.[5]
The white-tailed mongoose attains a weight range of 1.8 to 5.2 kg (4.0 to 11.5 lb), with an average of approximately 3.38 kg (7.5 lb), has a head-and-body length of 53 to 71 cm (21 to 28 in) and a tail length of 40 to 47 cm (16 to 19 in).[6][7][8][9][10] On average it appears to be the longest and heaviest extant species of mongoose, although its linear and body mass parameters broadly overlap with other larger mongoose species, in particular, themarsh mongoose seems to most closely rival (and possibly match) in range of body masses reported if not average weight.[6][7][8][9][10] Its legs are relatively long for a mongoose. The head is long and narrow. Its large, rounded ears are set low on the sides of the head. It has a yellow to tan coloration on its body, with long black guard hairs, giving it an overall grizzled grey appearance. Distal from thetibiofemoral joint, the legs are black. The base of the large, bushy tail is brownish yellow, and on its distal half, and the tail is white as its name suggests. This appendage may comprise up to 40% of the creature's body length. This species lacks hair on its upper lip and on the forepaws. Females have four teats.[11]
The white-tailed mongoose lives in most ofAfrica south of theSahara, and the southern portion of theArabian Peninsula.[2] It lives in a wide range of habitats, fromsemi-desert tosavannawoodland, but avoid moist areas like theCongo Riverbasin or extremely arid areas. It prefers areas of thick cover, such as the edges offorests and brushystreams.[11]
In theEast Sudanian Savanna, it was recorded in the transboundaryDinder–Alatash protected area complex during surveys between 2015 and 2018.[12] Further northeast, it is also frequent in theDegua Tembien massif.[13]
The white-tailed mongoose is primarilynocturnal and terrestrial. By day they will rest in an abandonedburrow,termitemound, or in cavities under tree roots. The average home range is 0.97 km2 (0.37 sq mi) for males and 0.64 km2 (0.25 sq mi) for females. Ranges of males do not overlap, but ranges of opposite sexes overlap significantly. Females either live alone with their own offspring or in a small group with other females and their offspring, although they do not associate with each other. Though they may share arange, theyforage separately. They are, for the most part, solitary creatures, with the male and female only coming together to mate. Reports of groups are either a breeding pair or a mother and her offspring. These mongooses do not migrate except to establish their own territory away from their mother's range.[11]
These mongooses are very vocal, and make an unusual barking sound that is associated with sexual behavior. If frightened, they will secrete a noxious substance from their anal glands. They do not stand on their hind feet for any length of time like other mongooses.[11]
The white-tailed mongoose feeds mostly oninsects, but will feed on a wide variety of other foods as well.Locusts,beetles, andmole crickets make up the majority of their diet.Rats,mice,shrews,lizards,snakes, smallbirds are also eaten, along with the occasional fruits and berries. Theeggs of birds are also eaten; they will break open the egg by throwing it between its hind legs against a rock or other hard object. They have been known to raid chicken houses in areas where domestic poultry is raised.[11]
Knowledge of the reproduction of the white tailed mongoose is incomplete. Litters are seen most frequently from February to May, and no young appear at all during the dry season from August to November, which suggests that they only breed once a year. The young are fully weaned at nine months of age, and around this time, the young disperse. It is speculated that sexual maturity is reached before two years of age, and that the gestation period is around 60 days.[11]
The genus name,Ichneumia, is derived from theGreekichneumon, which means 'tracker'. This name also happens to be the species and common name for theEgyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon). The species name,albicauda, is derived from theLatin wordsalbus, meaning 'white', andcauda, which means 'tail'.[11]
InTigrinya language, it is called ፂሒራ (tsihira).[13]
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