Common Dwarf Mongoose

The Common Dwarf Mongoose is a small African carnivore belonging to the mongoose family.

The Common Dwarf Mongoose is primarily found in dry grassland, open forests, bush land, up to 2,000 meters in altitude. It is especially common in areas with many termite mounds, their favorite sleeping place. The species ranges from East to southern Central Africa, from Eritrea and Ethiopia to Transvaal and South Africa.

The Common Dwarf Mongoose is a diurnal animal. It is a social species that lives in family groups of two to thirty animals. There is a strict hierarchy within a group, headed by a dominant pair. The dominant female is usually the leader of the group. All group members cooperate in helping to rear the pups.

Dwarf mongooses are territorial, and each group uses an area of approximately 30-60 hectares. They sleep at night in disused termite mounds, although they occasionally use piles of stones, hollow trees, etc.

Generally, only the group's dominant female becomes pregnant and she is responsible for 80% of the pups reared by the group. After the gestation period of 53 days, 4-6 young mongooses are born. They remain below ground for the first 2-3 weeks. At 4 weeks of age the pups begin accompanying the group.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Dwarf_Mongoose - 24.10.2010