Angolan slender mongoose
Kaokoland - Schlankmanguste
The Kaokoland - Schlankmanguste ( Galerella flavescens), also Kaokoland - Schlankichneumon or Black Schlankmanguste is a carnivore from the mongoose family ( Herpestidae ). They are found in the arid regions of southwestern Africa. This is also the region to which it owes its name, the Kaokoland. Previously, the Kaokoland - Schlankmanguste was considered either as a subspecies of Schlankmanguste or Kapmanguste. Today it is regarded as an independent art
Features
The Kaokoland - Schlankmanguste is a relatively small mongoose with a slim build and resembles the related Schlankmanguste. Also in body weight both types are similar. The body length is 31 to 35.5 cm, with males being slightly larger. The tail is about as long as the rest of the body. The coloration is quite variable, ranging from reddish or yellowish to dark brown or black. The head is provided with a length of 63 cm and 68 cm higher than the Schlankmanguste but smaller than that of the Kapmanguste. In the field, the Kaokoland - Schlankmanguste can be confused with the Kapmanguste, partially overlapping distribution area.
Distribution and habitat
The Somali Mongoose is limited to the south-west Africa where it inhabits dry areas in northwestern Namibia and southwestern Angola. They settled arid habitats with dense vegetation not to, while nonetheless avoiding real deserts.
Way of life
The Kaokoland - Schlankmanguste feeds primarily on small mammals, birds, reptiles and insects. In addition, she also eats the maggots from animal carcasses and fleshy fruits. The species seems to be primarily diurnal. Most you see these mongoose individually, rarely in groups of two or three animals. Within a small radius larger carcasses, however, even up to five animals were occasionally sighted. Here the animals are sometimes aggressive action against each other. About the size of home ranges, little is known. A male that has been marked in the Erongo Mountains in Namibia with a radio station, moving in an area of 145 ha
Hazardous situation
The IUCN classifies the Somali Mongoose in the Red List of Threatened Species as a not threatened (Least Concern ). Despite its limited distribution area and their adaptation to certain habitat types, the species is locally quite frequently. Also, it occurs in some protected areas, such as the Etosha National Park and Skeleton Coast National Park.
System
The taxonomy of the species is complex and has a complicated history. Already in 1928 the Kaokoland - Schlankmanguste was first described as a separate species based on animals from the Kaokoland under the name Myonax nigratus. In the meantime, she was seen as a subspecies of Kapmanguste. However, earlier, in 1889 a similar shape was flavescens described from Angola as a subspecies of Schlankmanguste. Today, both forms ( nigrata and flavescens) are combined and considered as a separate species. Therefore, the older name has priority flavescens. Two other unsecured subspecies of Kapmanguste ( annulata and shortridgei ) are also expected for the type of Kaokoland - Schlankmanguste. Animals of the mold are shortridgei chestnut -colored to yellowish while the form nigrata are dark brown to black. The dark specimens seem to occur preferentially in the range of dark granite rocks.