Pygmy mongooses
| Pygmy mongooses | ||||||||||||
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Southern pygmy mongoose ( Helogale parvula ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Helogale | ||||||||||||
| Gray , 1861 |
The dwarf mongoose ( Helogale ) are a genus of mammals from the family of the mongooses (Herpestidae). They are the smallest members of their family and are common in eastern and southern Africa . The genus comprises two species: the eastern dwarf mongoose ( Helogale hirtula ) and the southern dwarf mongoose ( Helogale parvula ).
features
Dwarf mongooses reach a head body length of 19 to 27 centimeters, to which a 15 to 18 centimeter long tail comes. The weight is between 200 and 400 grams. The coat color is variable, but mostly gray or brown. The fur of the southern pygmy mongoose is more reddish and less shaggy than that of the eastern pygmy mongoose. The head is short, the muzzle pointed. The paws have long claws adapted to the digging.
Distribution and way of life
Pygmy mongooses live in eastern and southern Africa. While the eastern pygmy mongoose inhabits a relatively small area and is more adapted to dry habitats, the southern pygmy mongoose is distributed over large parts of the continent and occurs in a variety of habitats.
Pygmy mongooses are diurnal and live in groups. To sleep, they withdraw into earthworks, crevices or termite mounds. While little is known about the way of life of the Eastern dwarf mongoose, the way of life of the southern dwarf mongoose has been researched in detail, especially by Anne Rasa , and described in detail in her book “The Perfect Family”.
The southern dwarf mongoose shows a complex social behavior: It lives in groups of around 9 to 12 members, which is led by a dominant female. Only the dominant pair of a group produces offspring, the reproduction of the other animals is either hormonally suppressed or the newborns are killed by the dominant female. The other group members take part in raising the young.
Southern dwarf mongooses feed mainly on insects , but they also eat other small animals, but also bird eggs and small vertebrates. The diet of the eastern pygmy mongoose is not known.
Hazardous situation
Both species of the dwarf mongoose are classified as Least Concern according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN ).
literature
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World . Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999 ISBN 0-8018-5789-9
- JS Gilchrist, AP Jennings, G. Veron and P. Cavallini: Family Herpestidae (Mongooses). In: Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier (eds.): Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Volume 1: Carnivores. Lynx Edicions, 2009, ISBN 978-84-96553-49-1 , pp. 262-329.
- Anne E. Rasa: The perfect family . DVA 1984, ISBN 3-421-02736-6
