Dwarf Mongoose

                                     Kingdom: Anamalia
                                     Phylum: Chordata
                                    Subphylum: Vertabrata
                                    Superclass: Tetrapoda
                                    Class: Mammalia
                                    Order: Carnivora
                                    Family: Viverridae
                                    Genus: Helogale
                                    Species: parvula
 

Physical Characteristics

     The dwarf mongoose is the smallest African carnivore, with a size of 8 to 12 inches long.  They usually weigh around 1 pound.  The dwarf mongoose is characterized by its elongated body that has a muscular and stocky build.  Their head is short and broad with a fairly short muzzle.  They have rounded ears and teeth that are adapted for an insect diet.  Their coat is smooth and it may be a speckled brown or a reddish-brown color, it may even be a grizzly gray to a glossy black color.  They have 5 toes with long non-retractable claws on each foot.  They generally have a long furry tail that tapers at the end.  The dwarf mongoose is very agile and active.  It will often travel at a fast trot.  It can jump as high as 1 yard and can climb.  Even though the dwarf mongoose has small eyes, it has extremely good vision to spot predators in the air and on the ground.

Geographic Range
     The dwarf mongoose ranges from Ethiopia to northern South Africa, west to North Nambia, Cameroon and Angolia.  They live in thick forest, woodlands, in mountain scrubs, in dry acacia brush, and in abandoned termite mounds.

Diet

     The dwarf mongoose is omnivorous, and they prefer to inhabit termite mounds, thickets, or scattered bush where insects are plentiful.  Among there favorite insects are beetles, grasshoppers, grubs, termites, spiders, scorpions, and larvae.  They will sporatically feed on small rodents, snakes, lizards, birds, and even fruits and vegetables.tiles, and fruit.   In zoos, they eat mice, mealworms, crickets, fruit, and vegetables.
 

 Social Organization

     The dwarf mongoose is a diurnal species,mainly active from the early morning until late in the afternoon.  They live in family packs of usually 8-18 members, but there maybe as many as 40 individuals in the group.  Their home range covers approximately 75 acres or more and will overlap with ranges of other packs.  They will mark their home ranges with anal and check scent glands.  A dwarf mongoose’s home range will consist of 10 to 20 termite mounds.  They will use these mounds as den sites, look out post,  and sources of food.  Dwarf mongooses are nomadic and are constantly on the move within their home range.  They seldom use the same den site for more than a few days.  The Dwarf mongoose has an interesting relationship with two species of bush hornbills ( Tockus flavirostis and T. erythrorhychus) whom often follow the family packs of mongooses and feed on the insects they stir up.  In return for food, the hornbills will provide alarm-warning cals to  mongooses of predatory birds.

Reproduction

     Each family pack of dwarf mongooses have a dominant breeding pair.  This pair is usually the oldest animals in the pack.  The dominant female leads the pack and is the only one to produce offspring.  This female will have 1 to 6 young per litter, and will have 2 to 3 litters a year.  Their gestation varies from 50 to 54 days.  After giving birth the female can mate again within 2 to 4 weeks. It is believed that if young are born by the subordinates, they are either born dead or killed by the dominant breeding female. The babies will emerge from the den at around 3 weeks old and will be weaned at 6 to 7 weeks old.  The dominant female usually spends very little time with her young, other than nursing them.  The young are cared for by subordinate females, and the lactating subordinant females may use their milk for feeding the dominant females young..  These babysitters will guard them and protect them from predators.  The young will reach sexually maturity at 3 years old, and the average lifespan of a dwarf mongoose is 10 years.

Predators

     The main predators to a dwarf mongoose are usually birds of prey, particularly goshawks. Snakes and the slender mongoose may threaten their young.  Although very seldom, the dominate female may kill any young dwarf mongooses that are not hers.

Conservation Status

     This is a flourishing species not yet endangered, and the exact population number of the Helogale parvula is unknown.  This species is currently in a Population Management Plan (PMP).
 
 

 Isis Abstracts on the Helogale parvula
 Behaviors of The Helogale parvula
 National Zoo -small mammals
Philadelphia Zoo fact sheet
African Wildlife Foundation - Helogale parvula

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