Banded Mongoose

scientific name

Mungos mungo

size

Head/Body Length. 12-16"
Tail Length. 8"
Weight. 3½-5 lbs.

characteristics

Adaptations/Coloration: coat brownish-gray " feet dark brown to black " tail tip black " back dark brown bands
Active. daylight
Claws. long " non-retractile " used for digging
Feet. 4-5 digits
Pack. 4-40 " live & forage in pack " larger than single family unit " sexes about equal in number/status
Social. highly

behavior

Bunching. response to large predator " group advances as they rub themselves on one anothers back " front ones may raise onto hind legs & make snapping lunges at enemy (effect = menacing monster relentlessly advancing with many heads)
Burrow. capable of digging but usually use termitaries, rodent holes, or natural crevices which may modify
Food. dont share " each animal intensely possessive of whatever it finds, eating it ASAP
Scent Marking. anal glands (sometimes cheek glands) mark territory " often scent mark one another after slightest group separation or mild scare
Sleep. night
Trouble. when alarmed or stressed pack bunch together with young at center & make for nearest shelter " have been seen coming to aid of individual group members
Voice. chattering from any group member (&/or standing on hind legs) illicits attention of whole group

reproduction/life span

Life span. wild 10 yrs " captivity 17 yrs (record)
Sexual Maturity. female 9-10 mos.
Birthing Interval. generally 4x/yr.
Courtship. male chases female & circles her with tail held high
Mating. copulation 10 min " female may be mated by several males within group & by males of foreign group during pack clashes
Gestation. 2 mos.
Litter. 2-6
Birth. in den " blind " helpless " very small
Parenting. newborn suckled by any lactating female in den " male plays important role in guarding young before they accompany pack " generally single animal (male or female) stays behind when pack goes foraging
Weaning. young travel with pack by ~5 wk old

diet

Carnivore
Wild. beetles, crabs, earthworms, fallen fruit, grasshoppers, ground birds & their eggs, millipedes, reptile eggs, rodents, scorpions, slugs, snails, snakes, & termites

habitat/range

range may cover almost 6 mi. " may travel 5+ mi./day food foraging

status

widespread " currently not in danger

oregon zoo exhibit

Africa Rain Forest