Africa Wild

Banded Mongoose: Behaviour:

The Banded Mongoose lives in permanent and cohesive packs of between 6-40 individuals, consisting of on average 15 adults with their offspring. Group sizes in this species is largest for all carnivores. Both males and females transfer to new packs, and in this manner population gene flow is accomplished.

(Kruger)

May 14, 2013 Press Release from the National Science Foundation

The newest public health threat in Africa, scientists have found, is coming from a previously unknown source: the banded mongoose.

Leptospirosis, the disease is called, and the banded mongoose carries it.

The banded mongoose, although wild, lives in close proximity to humans, sharing scarce water resources and scavenging in human waste. The disease-causing pathogen it carries can pass to humans through soil or water contaminated with infected urine.

Leptospirosis is the world's most common illness transmitted to humans by animals. It's a two-phase disease that begins with flu-like symptoms. If untreated, it can cause meningitis, liver damage, pulmonary hemorrhage, renal failure and death.

Banded Mongoose - Mungos Mungo (Gebande Muishond)


Picture: SM, taken near Tsendze, KNP, March 2013.

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

Description:
A small mongoose with colour varying from light grey with stripes to reddish-brown with speckles. The colour on the limbs is the same as the rest of the body. Dark cross bands, which are characteristic, start in the centre of the back and en on the crop. The dark, reddish-brown Eastern species has black bands and a black tail tip, while those of the Western species are brown. The animal has small, round ears and a pointed snout. Male and females look the same and adults weight between 1,0 to 1,6 kg. Their life expectancy is plus/minus 8 years.

Sexual dimorphism:
None

Food:
Insects, snails, small reptiles, worms, bird eggs, fruit and locusts.

Habitat:
Ravine forest and dense Acacia woodland with sufficient undergrowth, ant heaps, fallen logs and other dry plant material makes suitable places for a den.

Habits:
Banded Mongooses are gregarious animals which live in colonies up to 30 or more. They forage individually but keep contact by means of a continuous twittering. When in danger, or on hearing the alarm call, they keep quiet, while some stand on their hind legs to keep watch on their surroundings. They will then either continue or feed of quietly run away and seek temporary shelter in holes. They are diurnal, sleeping in holes in hollow ant heaps or ant bear holes. They can climb trees but usually move on the ground.

Voice:
Twittering. The alarm call is a loud chattering.

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

Enemies:
Leopard, lion, black-backed jackal, civet, python, African hawk eagle and other raptors.

Distribution Southern Africa:
South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia

Distribution Africa:


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

Banded Mongoose, KNP, near Tsendze, 2013

A great surprise .....but a wonderful choice

Nice avatar, Vinkie

Very glad all the Wildies like the mighty Mongoose for the animal of the month!


Now dig up all those Mongoose pics and show them off right here!

Some of my pics:

The last has some very cute LOs

yes, cute little ones

Banded Mongoose, Skukuza 14.3.2011







like Boons