Common Slender Mongoose
Herpestes sanguineus
Common Slender Mongoose, an insectivore in African savannas and bushy farmlands.
| Scientific name | Herpestes sanguineus |
|---|---|
| Swahili name | Nguchiro mwembamba |
| Conservation status | Least Concern |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Carnivora |
| Family | Herpestidae |
| Size | Male: body length approximately 30-40 cm, tail length approximately 25-35 cm, weight about 0.5-1.0 kg; female: slightly smaller in size and somewhat lighter in weight |
How to identify
Slender, elongated body; fur brown with a reddish tint; tail long and bushy with a darker tip; head small, ears rounded and short; limbs short but agile; fur short and dense
Habitat
Open woodland savanna, bushland, open grasslands and edges of farmland, prefers environments with cover
Diet
Omnivorous, mainly feeds on insects, small vertebrates (such as lizards, birds, rodents), bird eggs, and some plant fruits
When it is active
Diurnal, active frequently during the day, activity decreases towards dusk
Where it lives
Mainly distributed in sub-Saharan Africa including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Angola, and South Africa; commonly seen in Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve
How to spot it
Best observed early morning and mid-morning, watch for agile movements and tail characteristics; look for activity signs in open woodland savanna and bush edges
Photography tips
Use a telephoto lens to capture agile movements, choose soft morning light, keep background simple to highlight the subject, remain quiet to avoid disturbance
Threats
Habitat destruction and human disturbance, occasionally hunted or caught accidentally
Similar species
Similar to the common mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) but more slender, reddish-brown fur, longer and bushier tail; common mongoose is more robust with gray-brown fur
