Fox mongoose
| Fox mongoose | ||||||||||||
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Fox mongoose |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name of the genus | ||||||||||||
| Cynictis | ||||||||||||
| Ogilby , 1833 | ||||||||||||
| Scientific name of the species | ||||||||||||
| Cynictis penicillata | ||||||||||||
| ( G. Cuvier , 1829) |
The fox mongoose ( Cynictis penicillata ) is a species of mammal from the mongoose family (Herpestidae) and is named after its fox-like appearance. It is one of the more common mammals in Africa and often lives with meerkats .
features
The coat color changes with the area of distribution. Southern subspecies have a reddish-yellowish fur, northern ones a yellowish-gray fur. In some animals, there is also a seasonal change of coat: it is reddish in the summer months and paler in winter. The underside and the tip of the tail are colored white. The short, round ears and bushy tail enhance the fox-like appearance. The head body length is 27 to 38 centimeters, and 18 to 28 centimeters of tail are added. The weight of adult animals is 440 to 800 grams, in exceptional cases up to 1 kilogram.
distribution and habitat
The fox mongoose lives in southern Africa, more precisely in South Africa , Namibia , Botswana , Zimbabwe and southern Angola . Their preferred habitats are savannahs and semi-deserts .
Way of life
Fox mongooses are diurnal animals that stay in their burrows at night. They can dig, but prefer to take over existing burrows that were created by ground squirrels or jumping hares , for example . Sometimes they share burrows with meerkats . They live in family groups that usually consist of four to eight animals.
The food of the fox mongoose consists mostly of insects, to a much lesser extent also of rodents, birds and eggs.
Reproduction
Once or twice a year the females give birth to one to three (usually two) young animals after a gestation period of around 60 to 62 days. These are weaned after six to eight weeks and sexually mature at around one year. Life expectancy is up to 15 years in human care.
threat
In South Africa, the fox mongoose is the most important vector of rabies . Since their burrows can also destroy arable land, many farmers have switched to fumigating the burrows or laying poison baits. Nevertheless, the fox mongoose is still common and not threatened.
Accordingly, the leading World Conservation Union IUCN this Mangustenart in the Red List of endangered species , but puts them in the category not endangered ( least concern ).
literature
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 .
Web links
- Cynictis penicillata in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2009 Posted by: Taylor, PJ & Hoffmann, M., 2008. Accessed January 27 of 2010.