Fauna
Mammal · GBIF taxon 5219080

Banded Mongoose

Mungos mungo

Also known as Zebra Mongoose

Banded mongooses live in tightly knit, cooperative packs of up to forty individuals that forage together and sleep in renovated termite mounds. Remarkably, pack females synchronize their reproductive cycles so precisely that all pregnant females typically give birth together on the very same night. While searching for beetles and millipedes in the soil, troop members maintain continuous acoustic contact through an intricate repertoire of bird-like chirps and twitters.

SocialSavannahDiurnal
Banded Mongoose reference1 / 7
Licensed referenceAxel Tschentscher / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Dung Beetles
  • Millipedes
  • Scorpions
Predators
  • Martial Eagle
  • Leopard
  • African Rock Python
ThreatsHabitat loss, road mortality, and domestic dog predation
HabitatsSavannas, open woodlands, and grasslands
Life span8–11 years
Classification
  1. FamilyHerpestidae
  2. SpeciesMungos mungo
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Can deliver a painful defensive bite if cornered; observe foraging packs from a respectful distance.
Why it is dangerous
Possesses sharp teeth and strong jaws capable of delivering painful puncture wounds and secondary bacterial infections when cornered.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Look for coarse brownish-gray fur with distinct dark transverse stripes across the back and a slender tapering tail.
What to do
Do not attempt to touch or feed wild individuals, and allow moving troops plenty of room to pass.
Responsible observation
  • Maintain Space: Watch foraging troops from several meters away to avoid triggering alarm calls.
  • Listen for Vocalizations: Tune into their constant chirping contact calls as they comb leaf litter.
Related species
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