Mungos mungo colonus

(Heller, 1911)

Vernacular names
English : Banded mongoose
French : Mangouste rayée

Classification
Class : Mammalia
Order : Carnivora
Family : Herpestidae
Notes : 16 other subspecies known.

Identification
The species can reach 40 cm in body length, tail length of 31 cm for a weight of 1.9 kg. Limbs and tail tips darker brown. Coloration from light whitish-grey to brown with 10 to 15 black transversal bands on back. Grizzled hairs on head.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in Sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal and Gambia eastwards to Somalia and Eritrea, south to Angola, Namibia and east South Africa. Mostly found in savanna and woodlands, also in man-made habitats.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not listed
Status : The species has a huge range and can adapt very well to living near human settlements. It is occasionally hunted but this isn’t a threat.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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