Banded mongoose

The protection of living in groups

The striped mongoose is native to Africa and is distributed mainly south of the Sahara.

It has five toes on each front leg with long, curved claws used for scratching and digging. There is no visible sexual dimorphism.

A diurnal and gregarious species that lives in groups of 10 to 20 members, although foraging is done individually except when hunting larger prey, which is done jointly. The herds take care of the less capable members by warning them of possible danger and providing them with food. Pairs have their litters in grass-lined burrows. The female gives birth to 2 to 6 young after two months of gestation. Reproduction is usually synchronized so that several females give birth within a few days of each other, as the young can be suckled by any lactating female and are carried by any member of the group. It is a nomadic animal that does not usually stay in the same place for more than a few days or weeks.

Its main threat is the destruction of its habitat.

Conservation status

Extinct

Extinct in the wild

Critically endangered

Endangered

Vulnerable

Near threatened

Least concern

Insufficient data

Not evaluated