Marsh Mongoose (Water Mongoose)
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 12:16 pm
Marsh Mongoose – Atilax Paludinosus (Water Mongoose, Watermuishond)
Picture: http://www.biodiversityexplorer.org/mam ... inosus.htm
Picture: http://www.biodiversityexplorer.org/mam ... inosus.htm
Info: The Mammal Guide of Southern Africa, Burger Chillè, Briza publishers.
Description:
A rather large mongoose. The colour of the body varies from almost black to rust-brown and sometimes speckled. The colour of the underparts, the head and the face is the same as the rest of the body, while the legs are darker and the chin and cheeks might be lighter. The hair is long, especially the tail. The head is large and broad and the small ears lie flat. The Marsh Mongoose differs from the White-tailed Mongoose which is larger, darker in colour and has a white tail.
Sexual dimorphism:
None
Food:
Frogs, spur-toed frogs, mice, swamp rates, fish and insects.
Habitat:
Always near rivers, streams, marshes, swamps, dams and estuaries.
Distribution Africa:
Habits:
A solitary animal except when the females are young, which then follow her. It is active from dawn till mid-morning and again in the late afternoon till dusk. It is active for a longer period on overcast days, sleeps in thick shelter and prefers footpaths or the muddy banks of streams or dams when foraging. It is an excellent swimmer, sometimes taking to water when alarmed.
Voice:
Growl and a high-pitched explosive bark.
Breeding:
2 to 3 young are born from August to December.
Enemies:
Lion, serval, python, African hawk eagle
Info: The Mammal Guide of Southern Africa, Burger Chillè, Briza publishers.
Picture: http://www.biodiversityexplorer.org/mam ... inosus.htm
Picture: http://www.biodiversityexplorer.org/mam ... inosus.htm
Info: The Mammal Guide of Southern Africa, Burger Chillè, Briza publishers.
Description:
A rather large mongoose. The colour of the body varies from almost black to rust-brown and sometimes speckled. The colour of the underparts, the head and the face is the same as the rest of the body, while the legs are darker and the chin and cheeks might be lighter. The hair is long, especially the tail. The head is large and broad and the small ears lie flat. The Marsh Mongoose differs from the White-tailed Mongoose which is larger, darker in colour and has a white tail.
Sexual dimorphism:
None
Food:
Frogs, spur-toed frogs, mice, swamp rates, fish and insects.
Habitat:
Always near rivers, streams, marshes, swamps, dams and estuaries.
Distribution Africa:
Habits:
A solitary animal except when the females are young, which then follow her. It is active from dawn till mid-morning and again in the late afternoon till dusk. It is active for a longer period on overcast days, sleeps in thick shelter and prefers footpaths or the muddy banks of streams or dams when foraging. It is an excellent swimmer, sometimes taking to water when alarmed.
Voice:
Growl and a high-pitched explosive bark.
Breeding:
2 to 3 young are born from August to December.
Enemies:
Lion, serval, python, African hawk eagle
Info: The Mammal Guide of Southern Africa, Burger Chillè, Briza publishers.
