| Crossarchus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Common kusimanse (C. obscurus) | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Herpestidae |
| Subfamily: | Mungotinae |
| Genus: | Crossarchus Cuvier, 1825 |
| Type species | |
| Crossarchus obscurus Cuvier, 1825 | |
| Species | |
Crossarchus alexandri | |
 | |
| Ranges of the fourCrossarchus species C. obscurus C. platycephalus C. alexandri C. ansorgei | |
Crossarchus is amongoosegenus, commonly referred to askusimanse, oftencusimanse,[1][2]mangue, ordwarf mongoose. They are placed in the subfamily Mungotinae,[3] which are small, highly social mongooses.[1]
Members of this genus are found in theswamplands andforests of central and westernAfrica, in the countries ofGhana,[1]Ivory Coast,Liberia, andSierra Leone.[4]
| Image | Scientific name | Common name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crossarchus alexandri | Alexander's kusimanse | Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda | |
| Crossarchus ansorgei | Angolan kusimanse | Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola | |
 | Crossarchus obscurus | Common kusimanse | Ghana, Ivory Coast, Benin, Liberia, and Sierra Leone |
| Crossarchus platycephalus | Flat-headed kusimanse | Benin, Cameroon and Nigeria |
They feed oninsects,larvae, smallreptiles,crabs andberries. They use their claws and snouts for digging in leaf litter, under rotted trees and stones for the insects and larvae. They will also wade into shallowstreams looking forfreshwater crabs.
In most areas where members ofCrossarchus live, they are the numerically dominant members of the forest carnivore community.[2]
Females arepolyestrous and if not mated will come into heat nine times in a year. Litters range from 2-3 per year. The young can open their eyes in about twelve days, eating solid food in three weeks and have adult hair in five weeks.
Crossarchus live in groups of 10 to 24. One to three families live in a group. The families are made up of the mating pair and the young. They arediurnal, and will wander throughout their territories constantly, never staying in one place too long. In their wanderings they will create temporary shelters for themselves. As they do not occupy permanent den sites, the young are not able to keep up with the group for several weeks and must be carried to different foraging spots. Individuals in the group take turns carrying the young from place to place and also help feed them.[1]
Since the sociable kusimanses do not live in open habitat, they maintain contact in the dense rainforest understory by giving constant whistling calls while traveling.[1]
They are known in French asMangouste brune and in German asDunkelkusimanse.[citation needed]
