Africa Wild

MONGOOSE

The animal for March 2014 is the mighty MONGOOSE.

Mongooses, Genets and Civets are all in the same family Viverridae.
Mongooses are all in the subfamily Herpestinae including Suricata Suricatta (Meerkat).

In the whole of Africa there are a total of 21 species!

Southern Africa
Yellow Mongoose - Cynictis Penicillata (Witkwasmuishond)
Slender Mongoose - Herpestes Sanguinea (Swartkwasmuishond)
Koakoland Slender Mongoose - Galerella Flavescens (Swartmuishond)
Cape Grey Mongoose - Galerella Pulverulenta (Kleingrysmuishond)
White-tailed Mongoose - Ichneumia Albicauda (Witstertmuishond)
Marsh Mongoose - Atlilax Paludinosus (Water Mongoose, Watermuishond)
Large Grey Mongoose - Herpestes Ichneumon (Egyptian Mongoose, Grootgrysmuishond)
Banded Mongoose - Mungos Mungo (Gebande Muishond)
Dwarf Mongoose - Helogale Parvula (Dwergmuishond)
Suricate Suricate - Suricate or Meerkat

Rest of Africa
Long-Nosed Mongoose - Herpestes Naso
Meller's Mongoose - Rhynchogale Melleri
Black-legged Mongoose - Bdeogale Nigripes
Bushy-tailes Mongoose - Bdeogale Cressicauda
Selous' Mongoose - Paracynictis Selousi
Pousargeus's Mongoose - Dologale Dybowskii
Gamgian Mongoose - Mungos Gambianus
Kusimanse - Crossarchus Obscurus
Alexander's Mongoose - Crossarchus Alexandri
Angolan or Ansorge's Mongoose - Crossarchus Ansorgei
Liberian Mongoose - Liberiictis Kuhni


Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place
Such a lovely face
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
Any time of year, you can find it here...







Big teeth for a dwarf!

"cherry-nose" pretties :D

and some street fighting . . . . location? . . . . Hotel California -O -O -O

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Feliformia
Family: Herpestidae

Dwarf Mongoose: The Common Dwarf Mongoose (Helogale parvula) is the smallest of the mongoose family, and both males and females weigh only 350-400gr. Total length is 250mm and the tail is about the same length as the body. They reach adulthood in the second year of life.

(Kruger)

Behaviour:

They are a diurnal, gregarious and territorial species, which forages in groups. Group sizes can be as large as 20. The roaming pack spends the night in disused termite mounds scattered through its territory

Why are mongooses unaffected by cobra venom?

The mongoose’s quick reflexes help it dodge the cobra’s defensive bite, and its powerful jaws can dispatch a snake in one blow, but there are also genetic grounds for the mongoose’s courage.

Among the arsenal of weapons in snakes’ venom is one especially potent neurotoxin, alpha-neurotoxin. It works by attaching itself to acetylcholine receptor molecules on the surface of muscle cells of its prey. These receptors are designed to receive messages from nerves which tell the muscles to contract or relax. But alpha-neurotoxin blocks the messages. The blocking of these receptors causes paralysis, respiratory failure and death.


The molecular structures of acetylcholine receptors found in mongooses are shaped so that it is impossible for snake venom to attach to them. The receptors can still transfer messages from nerves to muscles, and are unaffected by snake venom. Because the toxin cannot bind to the receptor, the acetylcholine function is undisturbed.

Beautiful photos of the mongooses

Great info too

maybe I will post my friend

Great information and photos ~ Thanks!!

Dwarf Mongooses in KNP.

Dwarf Mongoose – Helogale Parvula (Dwergmuishond)


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Picture: BluTuna, KNP.

Info: The Mammal Guide of Southern Africa, Burger Cilliè, Briza publishers

Description:
This is the smallest of all the mongooses in the Southern Africa region. From a distance it appears to be dark brown, but on closer inspection the colour is dark brown to rust-brown with fine light-colored speckles. The hair is sparser underneath the belly, but of the same colour. Although the ears are small, they are more prominent than those of the other mongooses owing to the very short hair on the head. The claws on the front feet are long and well developed for digging. Male and female look alike and weight only between 210-340 grams. Their life expectancy is plus/minus 6 years.

Sexual Dimorphism:
None

Food:
Termites, insects, worms, snails, scorpions, locusts, small reptiles, earthworms.

Habitat:
In dry woodland with hard, stony ground and where there are anthills, fallen logs and other detritus.

Habits:
Dwarf Mongooses are gregarious animals living in colonies up to 10 or more individuals. Such a colony inhabits a permanent shelter which is either an old anthill or a hole dug by themselves, with the entrance usually under an old log. They are diurnal, appearing only long after sunrise and returning again before sunset. They are terrestrial and feed far apart but keep contact by means of “chook”noises. When the alarm call is given, they all stiffen – some will stand on their hind legs to search for the source of danger. They are fond of lying in the sun.

Distribution Africa:


Voice:
“Perrip” or “chook” or “shu-shew” for the alarm call.

Breeding:
2 to 4 young are born from October to March after a gestation period of plus/minus 8 weeks.

Enemies:
Leopard, lion, civet, African wild cat, black-backed jackal, python and raptors.

Info: The Mammal Guide of Southern Africa, Burger Cilliè, Briza publishers

of course... Mongoose
beautiful specimens