white-tailed mongoose

There are 33 known mongoose species and the largest of them all is the white-tailed. These critters may look harmless, but they are fierce predators. They can be found in Africa – south of the Sahara, and in the southern portion of the Arabian Peninsula, in the Middle East. The white-tailed mongoose prefers semi-deserts and savanna woodlands. Due to their stable numbers, this species of mongoose is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.

First the Stats… Scientific name: Ichneumia albicauda Weight: Up to 9.3 lbs. Length: Up to 2.3 feet Lifespan: Up to 20 years

Now on to the Facts! 1.) These mongooses prey mostly on insects, but will also prey on rodents, birds, frogs, lizards, snakes, eggs, fruits, and berries.

2.) White-tailed mongooses are nocturnal (active at night), with occasional crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk) habits.

3.) A group of mongooses is sometimes called a ‘pack’, ‘mongeese’, or ‘mongaggle’.

4.) Mongooses have a very high resistance to snake and scorpion venom. This is due to mutations in the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. These modified receptors prevent the snake venom α-neurotoxin from binding.

5.) White-tails are also terrestrial (spend most of their lives in trees).

But wait, there’s more on the white-tailed mongoose! 6.) The white-tailed mongooses usually just take over abandoned burrows; choosing not to dig their own.

7.) During the mating season they will emit high-pitched sounds called “giggling”

Did you know…? The story, “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi” features a mongoose that saves a family from a venomous snake.

8.) Females birth up to 4 pups that are born blind.

9.) The genus name, ‘Ichneumia’, comes from the Greek word ichneumon, which translates to ‘tracker’.

10.) They walk with a similar gait to that of a dog. But they do so with their head hung low and shoulders low to the ground.

Now a Short White-Tailed Mongoose Video!

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Learn more about all kinds of cool critters, right here ! toolTips('.classtoolTips3','

These animals are active during dawn and dusk, or twilight. Animals that are crepuscular are typically so due to the fact that many predators are not active during those times of the day. But as in the case of being diurnal or nocturnal, sometimes the organism is crepuscular in an effort to obtain food that might be present at these times. Mule deer , desert cottontails , coyotes , porcupines , and black-tailed jackrabbits , to name a few, fit into this category.'); toolTips('.classtoolTips6','

Terrestrial creatures are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land. They may venture into the trees or water, but their primary existence is on land.'); toolTips('.classtoolTips6','

Terrestrial creatures are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land. They may venture into the trees or water, but their primary existence is on land.'); toolTips('.classtoolTips16','

Predation is the ecological process by which an animal (or an organism) kills and feeds on another. The animal that kills to feed is called a predator . The 1 that is killed to be eaten is called prey.

Some examples or predators are: raptors , wolves , snakes , cats , and sharks .'); toolTips('.classtoolTips18','

Organisms that are nocturnal are active at night. Animals that fit into this category are typically prey animals that rely on the cover of darkness as a defense. Granted, there are no shortage of predators at night. Some organisms adopt a nocturnal lifestyle due to climate issues. Many desert dwelling animals are nocturnal as it is simply cooler outside at night. Aardvarks , badgers , bandicoots , and aye-ayes are just some examples of nocturnal creatures.');

white-tailed mongoose

The White-Tailed Mongoose