Cat-sized, sharp-snouted carnivore like a large, shaggy weasel. Elongated body and short legged. Above, uniform griz­zled gray, grizzled appearance coming from the long guard hairs banded alternately dark and pale. Below paler. Legs short, often barely visible beneath fur, colored as body with blackish feet. Muzzle sharp, blackish color. Rest of head as body, but hair shorter. Ears small, rounded and brownish. Tail long, grizzled gray, and with a long tuft of blackish hairs at the tip. Tail distinctively wedge-shaped with longest hairs at base getting shorter toward the tip.

This species is found mainly in sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal and Gambia to East Africa, then southwards in Angola, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique. It is absent from much of southern Africa, but present in north-east Namibia, northern Botswana, northern and eastern Zimbabwe and all along the South African coastline (Palomares in press). In North Africa, ranges in a narrow coastal strip from Western Sahara to Tunisia, and also from northern and eastern Egypt southwards to Ethiopia (Palomares in press). It has been reported to 3,000 m asl in the Ethiopian highlands (Yalden et al. 1996). Apparently formerly introduced to Madagascar, but not recorded recently (Haltenorth and Diller 1980).

Extralimitally to the African mainland, this species is also found from the Sinai Peninsula to the south of Turkey (Delibes 1999), and on the Iberian Peninsula in southern and central Portugal (Borralho et al. 1995) and south-western Spain (Delibes 1999). At the beginning of the 20th century, it was also present in the north-western part of the Iberian Peninsula (Delibes 1999). An individual was recently recorded near Leon (Castile and Leon, Spain). It is generally considered to have been introduced to Europe, on a zoogeographical basis (Delibes 1999) and on the grounds that the species is absent from the European fossil record, although late Pleistocene and Holocene fossils are known from North Africa (Dobson 1998).

Herpestes ichneumon is distributed in Spain, Portugal, Israel, and most of Africa except for central Zaire, the West African lowland forests and southeastern South Africa. It was introduced to Madagascar and Italy (Hinton and Dunn, 1967).

Biogeographic Regions: palearctic (Native ); ethiopian (Native )

32 records. Latest in 2007 (Kom Oshim, Fayium).

Localized (Nile Delta & environs). AOO=117.6 km². EOO=28093.2 km². 8 locations.

Widespread (whole of Africa north to Turkey, Iberia).

Egyptian mongooses are unassuming creatures with their long-haired, grey coats dotted with brownish speckles; sometimes, the coat is reddish brown with yellow speckles but this is infrequent. A narrow, naked strip of skin surrounds the eyes. Their slender body stands out in sharp contrast to the long, bushy tail, which ends in a black tassel. They have a long, low-slung form which appears reptilian from a distance. The body length is 48 to 60 cm with the tail measuring 33 to 54 cm. They have a long face, small rounded ears which don't project above the head, short legs with five digits on each limb, hind feet which are naked to the heel and foreclaws that are sharp and curved for digging. Another very important feature is the existence of large anal sac containing two glandular openings. These animals have 35 to 40 teeth of which the carnassal are well developed for sheering flesh. If excited, H. ichneumon can bristle its hair and arch its back to appear two times its actual size.

Range mass: 1.7 to 4 kg.

Range length: 48 to 60 cm.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry

Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike

Length 56 cm, weight 1.7-4 kg.

Type specimen from Egypt (‘banks of the Nile’).

Habitat and Ecology

Systems

• Terrestrial

Egyptian mongooses are ground inhabitants who prefer regions with trees near water. They hide and find shelter in burrows, hollow logs or trees, holes in the ground, and rock crevices, especially during the night. Today their habitat also includes cultivated fields and vegetated canal banks (Osborn, 1998).

Habitat Regions: temperate ; tropical ; terrestrial

The Egyptian mongoose favours habitats with dense vegetation and a good water supply, such as near streams, rivers, swamps, and agricultural land. It avoids humid forests and desert.

Meals consist of invertebrates, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Sometimes, H. ichneumon even dines on fruit. Eggs are a favored delicacy. In fact, The Egyptian mongooses came by their scientific name because the animal was believed to track down crocodile eggs. Whether or not that is true is still unknown. Mongooses have an interesting way of eating eggs: they throw them through their hind legs against something hard like a rock or wall. Also, like their famous relatives, Small Indian Mongooses, Herpestes javanicus, which starred in Kipling's Rikki Tikki Tavi, Ichneumons have a reputation for snake killing. It is commonly believed that mongooses are immune to snake poisons, but this is not so. They are described as having "lightning-fast reflexes," and they erect all the hair on their bodies when on the attack. This is thought to confuse the reptile. With quick and skillful movement, they seize it from behind the head. They don't actually chase their prey but merely encounter it after continuous exploratory walking; then with one speedy strike, make the kill. They can defend themselves from snakes as well. Egyptian Mongooses have the ability to predict and dodge the strike of a snake attack and then catch the snakes head before another strike (Kingdon, 1977; Osborn, 1998).

These mongooses also hunt insects. They place their noses to the earth sniffing until they smell an insect and then they either snatch it up as the unsuspecting bug meanders along above ground or dig it out from below the dirt.

Animal Foods: birds; mammals; amphibians; reptiles; eggs; insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods

Plant Foods: fruit

Primary Diet: carnivore (Eats terrestrial vertebrates, Insectivore )

Egyptian mongooses have a large impact on their prey populations, including snakes and rodents.

Herpestes ichneumon preys on:
non-insect arthropods
Arthropoda
Insecta
Amphibia
Reptilia
Aves
Mammalia

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

The Egyptian mongoose is primarily active in the day time, but it can also be active at night. It inhabits a den that can be natural, such as a rock crevice or a thicket of vegetation, or it may dig or adopt a burrow.

A largely carnivorous species that is highly reliant on scent when hunting, the Egyptian mongoose forages primarily in the early morning and late afternoon. It has a varied diet that includes small birds and mammals, snakes, frogs, toads, insects, fish and crabs, and sometimes also eggs, fruit and occasionally dead carcasses. It is renowned for its ability to hunt poisonous snakes, which is possible due to the mongoose’s low sensitivity to poison and its thick coat that offers a degree of protection.

Generally there is no particular breeding season for the Egyptian mongoose, although in the Middle East the majority of births take place in the spring. Most litters comprise two to four young, which are born after a gestation period of 49 to 84 days.

A sociable mammal that lives in pairs or family groups, it is likely that each group defends a territory together. The Egyptian mongoose can arch its back and raise its fur when excited or threatened and can rear up on its hind legs to check its surroundings. Although rarely heard, it is capable of chattering, squeaking and growling.

One particular mongoose in captivity lived over 20 years, although that is rare. In the wild they live approximately 12 years (Novak, 1991).

Range lifespan

Status: captivity: 20 (high) years.

Average lifespan

Status: wild: 12 years.

Average lifespan

Status: captivity: 20.0 years.

Average lifespan

Status: wild: 12.0 years.

Observations: In the wild, these animals may live up to 12 years (Bernhard Grzimek 1990). There are reports of one captive animal living over 20 years (Ronald Nowak 1999), which is dubious as no other captive animal lived more than 12.8 years (Richard Weigl 2005). Further studies are necessary to establish the maximum longevity of this species.

Gerti Ducker described a period of foreplay before the animals mate. Mating lasts for almost five minutes. During this time, the male knocks the female's neck with his mouth wide open. The male always pursues the female. He makes a noise which the female then repeats. The females then squats and runs, this seduces the male (Hinton and Dunn, 1967).

Egyptian mongooses reach sexual maturity at around 2 years of age. When ready to mate the female's vulva becomes swollen and red. Females can actually come into heat shortly after giving birth--as little as ten days. While giving birth, females stand up with their legs slightly bent. Gestation is approximately 11 weeks and litters range from 2 to 4 young which are born in July or August in Spain (Hinton and Dunn, 1967).

Range number of offspring: 2 to 4.

Average gestation period: 1-2 months.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 2 years.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 2 years.

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); fertilization ; viviparous

Average gestation period: 74 days.

Average number of offspring: 3.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)

Sex: male: 730 days.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)

Sex: female: 730 days.

At birth, Egyptian mongooses are blind and have fur. Around 6 to 8 weeks they first open their eyes (Hayssen, 1993).

Parental Investment: altricial ; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female)

With a wide distribution and high population, the Egyptian mongoose is in no trouble of becoming endangered. In fact, in most mongoose populations, they are the most abundant carnivores living in an area.

US Federal List: no special status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

Native, resident.

Least Concern.

Common.

Population

Population Trend

Major Threats

Conservation Actions

Along with controlling local pests, H. ichneumon is capable of killing harmless birds and mammals and other desirable wildlife. This has lead to the extinction and endangerment of some species. They are also a serious pest to chicken farmers. Egyptian mongooses have decimated enough species that the importation and possession of these mongooses is forbidden in some countries (Novak, 1991).

Member of this species are very well-known for their ability to catch creatures that are pests to humans. Egyptian mongooses are important in eliminating rats, mice, and especially snakes. They have been introduced to places in hopes of keeping local pest populations in check (Osborn, 1998).

Positive Impacts: controls pest population