Angolan slender mongoose facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Angolan slender mongoose |
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| An individual at Okaukuejo waterhole, Etosha National Park, Namibia | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Herpestes
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| Species: |
flavescens
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| Angolan slender mongoose range | |
| Synonyms | |
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Galerella flavescens |
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The Angolan slender mongoose (Herpestes flavescens) is a type of mongoose that lives in southwestern Africa. You can find it mainly in southwestern Angola and northwestern Namibia. This animal is not in danger of disappearing. Experts say it is a "Least Concern" animal. This means there are plenty of them around.
This mongoose has a long, slim body. Its fur can be different colors. Some are black or dark brown. Others are yellowish or reddish-brown. These colors depend on where the mongoose lives. It likes to live in dry, rocky places. It eats insects, scorpions, and other small creatures.
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What is a Mongoose?
A mongoose is a small, furry mammal. They are known for being quick and clever. Mongooses are part of the Herpestidae family. There are many different types of mongooses around the world. They often live in warm places.
Its Scientific Name
The scientific name for this mongoose is Herpestes flavescens. A scientist named José Vicente Barbosa du Bocage gave it this name in 1889. He studied an adult female mongoose from Angola.
What Does It Look Like?
The Angolan slender mongoose is a small and thin animal. It has a long, bushy tail. Male mongooses are usually about 343 millimeters (13.5 inches) long. Females are a bit smaller, around 310 millimeters (12.2 inches). Their tails are about 340 millimeters (13.4 inches) long.
Its head is fairly wide. The ears are neat and round. As mentioned, their fur color varies. Most are black or dark brown. But some can be reddish-brown or yellowish-orange. Their belly is often yellowish-orange. The tail usually has a black tip.
Where Does It Live?
This mongoose lives only in southern Africa. Its home is in southwestern Angola and northwestern Namibia. The mongooses in Namibia are usually dark brown or black. Those in Angola are mostly pale in color.
There are no mixed-color mongooses where these two groups meet. This is near the Cunene River. This mongoose loves rocky areas. It lives in places with big rocks and granite boulders. You can also find them in the woodlands around these rocky spots.
How It Lives
The Angolan slender mongoose is active during the day. It mostly lives alone. Each mongoose has its own home area. This area can be as big as 4 square kilometers (1.5 square miles). They have several dens, which are like their homes.
Sometimes, the home areas of different mongooses overlap. They don't seem to mind sharing space.
What It Eats
This mongoose is a hunter. Its diet is mostly insects. It also eats solifuges (which are like big spiders). Scorpions are another favorite food. They also hunt lizards, snakes, small birds, and tiny mammals.
Bigger animals sometimes hunt the mongoose. For example, the African hawk-eagle might try to catch one.
Its Conservation Status
The Angolan slender mongoose lives in a specific area. We don't know exactly how many there are. But they seem to be common. No big threats have been found that would harm them.
Because of this, the International Union for Conservation of Nature says it's a "least concern" animal. This means it's not currently at risk of extinction.
