The exact range of this mongoose is uncertain, but it occurs in north-eastern DR Congo, Central African Republic, extreme southern Sudan and Uganda (Stuart and Stuart in press). It may occur further west than current records indicate. Old specimens in the Paris Natural History Museum were collected at Sanghe, but it is not clear whether this is the district in the Congo Republic, or that in the Central African Republic (Schreiber et al. 1989).

Dologale dybowskii is found in Africa in the Central African Republic, northeast Zaire, southern Sudan, and throughout western Uganda (Nowak, 1999).

Biogeographic Regions: ethiopian (Native )

Dologale dybowskii is a relatively small mongoose with brown fur covering its body and limbs. Its tail is bushy and is also brown. Both its underparts and face are gray with the latter being darker. Its claws on its forefeet are robust and powerful (Kingdon, 1997).

The head to body length of this African mongoose ranges from 25 to 33 cm while the tail length ranges from 16 to 23 cm. The hind leg is approximately 5.5 cm and its weight ranges from 300 to 400 grams (Kingdon, 1979).

Dologale dybowskii is sometimes confused with the dwarf mongoose Helogale due to their similar size and appearance. However, Helogale has a groove in its upper lip that Dologale dybowskii lacks (Kingdon, 1979). Furthermore, Dologale dybowskii has a shorter palate and weaker teeth than Helogale (Kingdon, 1997).

Range mass: 300 to 400 g.

Habitat and Ecology

Systems

• Terrestrial

Dologale dybowskii has a wide range of habitats ranging from the shores of Lake Albert to the forest grasslands of the Imatong Mountains. It has also been spotted in the savanna forests of Mubende and is therefore, often referred to as the African Savanna Mongoose (Kingdon, 1979).

Habitat Regions: tropical

Aquatic Biomes: lakes and ponds

The food habits of Dologale dybowskii are not certain. However, the large digging claws, as well as the lack of specialization of the teeth, suggests that it may eat fossorial invertebrates, including termites, and small vertebrates (Kingdon, 1997).

Animal Foods: insects

Primary Diet: carnivore (Eats terrestrial vertebrates, Insectivore )

There has been no direct evidence linking Dologale dybowskii to any ecosystem roles. However, due to its habitat and hypothesized food behavior, one may assume that Dologale dybowskii affects plant, vertebrate, and invertebrate populations.

Dologale dybowskii preys on:
Insecta

This list may not be complete but is based on published studies.

.

No information available (Hayssen, van Tienhoven, and van Tienhoven, 1993).

US Migratory Bird Act: no special status

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: data deficient

Population

Population Trend

Major Threats

Conservation Actions