| Bushy-tailed mongoose | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Herpestidae |
| Genus: | Bdeogale |
| Species: | B. crassicauda |
| Binomial name | |
| Bdeogale crassicauda Peters, 1852 | |
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| Bushy-tailed mongoose range (green - extant, pink - probably extant) | |
Thebushy-tailed mongoose (Bdeogale crassicauda) is amammal in the familyHerpestidae found incentral Africa, from southernKenya to centralMozambique.
The bushy-tailed mongoose has a greyish to yellowish brown fur. The underfur is dense, and theguard hairs are 5–45 mm (0.20–1.77 in) long. Its head is rounded.[2]It has short woolly ears and a plush muzzle. Its tail is wide and bushy.[3]Five individuals captured inArusha National Park had a head-to-body length of 383–407 mm (15.1–16.0 in) with a 230 mm (9.1 in) long tail and a 74.9–77.7 mm (2.95–3.06 in) long feet; they weighed 1.273–1.3 kg (2.81–2.87 lb).[4]
The bushy tailed mongoose is closely related to theblack-footed mongoose (Bdeogale nigripes). Perez's study of genes within the family Herpestidae showed the genusBdeogale is monophyletic. Close cousins of this clade include the generaIchneumia andCynictis.[3]
Because of the bushy-tailed mongoose's size and stealthiness, its range is not completely known. Although, it apparently prefers locations near rivers that provide cover.[2]The bushy-tailed mongoose inhabits foremost open shrubland and multilayered forest. These habitats vary little in temperature and humidity.[4]In northernTanzania, the bushy-tailed mongoose was recorded in more than 31camera trap locations inNgorongoro Conservation Area, Biharamulo-Burigi-Kimisi Game Reserve andMahale Mountains National Park, mostly inAcacia woodlands and riparian zones.[5]
The bushy-tailed mongoose is listed asLeast Concern on theIUCN Red List. It is negatively impacted byhabitat degradation and fragmentation, prey depletion and land use dynamics caused by cattle grazing.[1]
