Mongoose

From New World Encyclopedia
Revision as of 14:58, 30 November 2007 by Rick Swarts (talk | contribs)


Mongoose
Dwarf Mongoose
Dwarf Mongoose
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Herpestidae
Bonaparte, 1845
Subfamiles

Herpestinae

Mongoose (plural mongooses) is the common name for any member of the small "cat-like" carnivorous mammals comprising the Old World family Herpestidae, characterized by a long, slender body, short legs, long tail, small and round head with short muzzle, and ears low on the side of the head. Some have a noted ability to prey upon venomous snakes.

Various authorities state that technically the plural of mongoose is "mongooses," because the irregular plural (policeman to policemen, goose to geese) is not used for a compound word that is not of the same nature as the root word; that is, a mongoose is not a type of goose (Pinker 1999; BZ 2007; Viney 2007). There are, however, dictionary references that recognize "mongeese" as an acceptable plural (Merriam-Webster 2007).

The word mongoose is derived from the Marathi word mangus.


Description

Mongooses are members of Carnivora, an order of placental animals that includes such familiar groups as bears, foxes, cats, hyenas, skunks, otters, raccoons, and so forth. Carnivora is typically divided into the suborders Caniformia (dog-like) and Feliformia (cat-like). Mongooses are placed in the suborder Feliformia, and together with the hyenas (family Hyaenidae) and Malagasy carnivores (Eupleridae) are placed in the superfamily Herpestoidea.

Until recently, species in the Herpestidae family were classified in the Viverridae family with civets (Postanowicz 2007). However, as shown in the works of Wilson and Reeder (1993), the herpestids are genetically and morphologically distinct from the viverrids (Postanowicz 2007).

Mongooses have long faces and bodies, small rounded ears, short legs, and long tapering tails. Their small, rounded heads have a pointed, short muzzle that lacks a noticeable stop (an indentation between the forehead and the muzzle), while viverrids have a definite stop (Postanowicz 2007). The small, rounded ears of herpestids are set very low on the sides of the head, unlike viverrids which have ears that are longer and set higher on the head (Postanowicz 2007). Most species have a large anal scent gland, used for scent marking of territories, and signalling reproductive status. The dental formula of mongooses is similar to that of viverrids:

3.1.3-4.1-2
3.1.3-4.1-2

The eyes of herpestids tend to have pupils that are horizontal, whereas those of viverrids are more vertical slits like cats (Postanowicz 2007). They have non-retractile claws that are used primarily for digging. The front paws of mongooses look more like hands, similar to a raccoon, whereas those of viverrids are more like cats (Postanowicz 2007).


Mongooses are small carnivores, ranging from around 23 centimeters to 75 centimeters, with a weight from less than 1 kilogram to around 5 or 6 kilograms (Myers 2000). Typical coloration is gray or brown and of a single color, with the exception of the few that have stripes ((Myers 2000).

Mainly African, mongooses also are widely distributed in Asia, the Caribbean, and southern Europe. There are more than thirty species. Myers (2000) lists 34 species in about 20 genera.

Some species of mongooses will usually lead solitary lives, seeking out food only for themselves, while others travel in groups, known as mongaggles. In these larger groups, they will tend to cooperate and share food amongst themselves. Mongooses mostly feed on insects, crabs, earthworms, lizards, snakes, chickens, and rodents. However, they will also eat eggs and carrion. Some species, such as the Indian mongoose, are popularly used to fight and kill venomous snakes, even king cobras. They are able to do this because of their agility and cunning, thick coat and high resistance to the venom, but typically avoid the cobra and have no particular affinity for consuming their meat.[1]

Some species of mongoose can be easily domesticated, are fairly intelligent, and can be taught simple tricks, so they are often kept as pets to protect home from vermin. However, they can be more destructive than desired; when imported into the West Indies for the purpose of killing rats and snakes, they destroyed most of the small, ground-based fauna. For this reason, it is illegal to import most species of mongoose into the United States,[2] Australia and other countries. Mongooses were introduced to Hawaii in 1883, and have had a significant impact on native species.[3]

The mongoose emits a high pitched noise, commonly known as giggling, when it mates. The giggling is also a form of courtship when this animal is choosing a mate[citation needed].


Mongooses also have receptors for acetylcholine that, like the receptors in snakes, are shaped so that it is impossible for snake neurotoxin venom to attach to them. Research is being done to determine if similar mechanisms protect the mongoose from snake hemotoxic venoms.[4]

Ecology

Behavioral ecology

The Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) is sometimes held as an example of a solitary mongoose, though they have been observed to work in groups also.[5]

The meerkat or suricate (Suricata suricatta) lives in troops of 2-3 families each comprising a male, a female and 2-5 offspring in open country in Southern Africa (Angola, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa). Meerkats are small, diurnal mammals foraging for invertebrates in open country. Their behaviour and small size (they weigh less than one kilogram) makes them very vulnerable to larger carnivores and birds of prey. However, the meerkat has been known to eat small birds that migrate through Southern Africa. To protect the foraging troops from predators, one meerkat serves as a sentinel — climbing to an exposed vantage point and scanning the surroundings for danger. If the sentinel detects a predator it gives a loud alarm call to warn the troop and indicate if the threat comes from the air or the ground. If from the air, the meerkats rush as fast as they can to the nearest hole. If from the ground, the troop flees but not quite so fast as meerkats are more able to evade terrestrial predators than airborne raptors.

Relationship with Man

Mongooses are a common spectacle for road-side shows in India. Snake-charmers typically keep mongooses for mock fights with snakes. In Okinawa, Japan, there is a tourist attraction where a mongoose and a type of local venomous snake, the habu (one of various Trimeresurus species) are placed in a closed perimeter and allowed to fight, while spectators watch. However, due to pressure from animal rights activists, the spectacle is less common today.

In ancient Egypt according to the Greek historian Diodorus Siculus (1.35 & 1.87), native mongooses (Herpestes ichneumon) were venerated for their ability to handle venomous snakes and for their occasional diet of crocodile eggs.

Taxonomy and classification

Dwarf Mongoose (Helogale parvula)

The mongooses belong to one of four families of terrestrial cat-like mammals descended from the viverravines, which were civet/genet-like mammals. The mongoose family is a close evolutionary relation of the family Viverridae and mongooses are sometimes classified as members of this family; however, mongooses have characteristic and distinguishing morphological and behavioural features though they do have the same basic dental formula as the viverrids:

3.1.3-4.1-2
3.1.3-4.1-2

In contrast to the arboreal, nocturnal viverrids, mongooses are more commonly terrestrial and many are active during the day. Most are solitary like the Egyptian mongoose but a few, for example meerkats, have well-developed social systems.

Less diverse than the viverrids, the 30 species and 11 genera of mongooses are assigned to only two subfamilies. The subfamily Herpestinae comprises 30 species of African and Asian mongooses, including the Cape gray mongoose, the Egyptian mongoose and the meerkat or suricate.

Classification

  • FAMILY HERPESTIDAE
    • Subfamily Herpestinae
      • Genus Atilax
        • Marsh Mongoose, Atilax paludinosus
      • Genus Bdeogale
        • Bushy-tailed Mongoose, Bdeogale crassicauda
        • Jackson's Mongoose, Bdeogale jacksoni
        • Black-footed Mongoose, Bdeogale nigripes
      • Genus Crossarchus
        • Alexander's Cusimanse, Crossarchus alexandri
        • Ansorge's Cusimanse, Crossarchus ansorgei
        • Long-nosed Cusimanse, Crossarchus obscurus
        • Flat-headed Cusimanse, Crossarchus platycephalus
      • Genus Cynictis
        • Yellow Mongoose, Cynictis penicillata
      • Genus Dologale
        • Pousargues' Mongoose, Dologale dybowskii
      • Genus Galerella
        • Black Slender Mongoose, Galerella flavescens
        • Cape Grey Mongoose, Galerella pulverulenta
        • Slender Mongoose, Galerella sanguinea
        • Namaqua Slender Mongoose, Galerella swalius
      • Genus Helogale
        • Desert Dwarf Mongoose, Helogale hirtula
        • Dwarf Mongoose, Helogale parvula
      • Genus Herpestes
        • Short-tailed Mongoose, Herpestes brachyurus
        • Indian Gray Mongoose, Herpestes edwardsii
        • Indian Brown Mongoose, Herpestes fuscus
        • Egyptian Mongoose, Herpestes ichneumon
        • Indian Mongoose, Herpestes javanicus or Herpestes auropunctatus
        • Long-nosed Mongoose, Herpestes naso
        • Bengal Mongoose, Herpestes palustris
        • Collared Mongoose, Herpestes semitorquatus
        • Ruddy Mongoose, Herpestes smithii
        • Crab-eating Mongoose, Herpestes urva
        • Striped-necked Mongoose, Herpestes vitticollis
      • Genus Ichneumia
        • White-tailed Mongoose, Ichneumia albicauda
      • Genus Liberiictus
        • Liberian Mongoose, Liberiictis kuhni
      • Genus Mungos
        • Gambian Mongoose, Mungos gambianus
        • Banded Mongoose, Mungos mungo
      • Genus Mungotictis
        • Narrow-striped Mongoose, Mungotictis decemlineata
      • Genus Paracynictis
        • Selous' Mongoose, Paracynictis selousi
      • Genus Rhynchogale
        • Meller's Mongoose, Rhynchogale melleri
      • Genus Suricata

Gallery

Mongoose, or Mangouste as depicted in the 1851 Illustrated London Reading Book
Long-nosed Cusimanse, Crossarchus obscurus
Banded Mongoose, Mungos mungo

Bibliography

  • Rasa, Anne. 1986. Mongoose watch a family observed. Garden City, N.Y.: Anchor Press, Doubleday. ISBN 038523175X
  • H.E. Hinton and A.M.S. Dunn: Mongeese: Their Natural History and Behaviour. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1967.
  • Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2007. mongoose. Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Retrieved November 29, 2007.
  • Pinker, S. ?? Words and Rules: The Ingredients of Language.

Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder. 1993. Mammal Species of the World, A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. 2nd edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington. xviii+1206 pp.

Myers, P. 2000. "Herpestidae" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed November 30, 2007 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Herpestidae.html.


References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  1. (1988) in Mondadori, Arnoldo: Great Book of the Animal Kingdom. New York: Arch Cape Press, 301. 
  2. Animals whose importation is banned under the Lacey Act. Retrieved 2006-04-12.
  3. Star Bulletin: Traps set to catch mongoose on Kauai. Retrieved 2006-04-12.
  4. Hedges, Stephen. "Science: Mongoose's secret is to copy its prey"; New Scientist; 11 January 1997. Retrieved 16 November 2007.
  5. Animal Diversity Web: Herpestes ichneumon. Retrieved 2006-04-12.
  1. ↑ Merriam-Webster: mongoose - Retrieved November 1, 2007.
  2. ↑ Arnoldo Mondadori. Great Book of the Animal Kingdom. (New York: Arch Cape Press, 1988, ISBN 0517667916), P. 301
  3. ↑ Animals whose importation is banned under the Lacey Act - Retrieved November 1, 2007.
  4. ↑ Star Bulletin: Traps set to catch mongoose on Kauai - Retrieved November 1, 2007.
  5. ↑ Animal Diversity Web: Herpestes ichneumon - Retrieved November 1, 2007.

Credits

New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article in accordance with New World Encyclopedia standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list of acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions by wikipedians is accessible to researchers here:

The history of this article since it was imported to New World Encyclopedia:

Note: Some restrictions may apply to use of individual images which are separately licensed.