White-tailed mongoose

Weißschwanzmanguste ( Ichneumia albicauda )

The Weißschwanzmanguste ( Ichneumia albicauda ), also called Weißschwanzichneumon, one living in Africa and on the Arabian Peninsula carnivore species from the mongoose family is ( Herpestidae ).

Features

Weißschwanzmangusten among the largest members of their family and reach a body length 47-71 cm, a tail length of 34-47 centimeters and a weight of 1.8 to 5.2 kilograms. The base coat is yellowish or white, from towering black guard hairs give the animal a grayish overall impression. The limbs are black from the knees. Named giving feature is the white-colored rear half of the bushy tail, this can also be black in individual animals.

Distribution and habitat

Weißschwanzmangusten are distributed over large parts of Africa, they come from Senegal and southern Egypt to northern Namibia and eastern South Africa before, but avoid strong forest and desert areas. In addition, they are common in the southern half of the Arabian Peninsula. Their habitat are primarily savanna and grasslands, where they prefer areas with dense vegetation, such as forest edges or a river.

Way of life

These animals are nocturnal, during the day they hide in burrows of aardvarks or porcupines or in caves. They are solitary, with males defend their territories against same-sex counterparts - with those of females they can overlap a large area.

The food of these animals consists primarily of insects, in addition they also take snakes and other vertebrates and fruit to himself.

The births fall into the wetter months of the year, litter size is between one and four newborns. The gestation period is estimated at around 60 days, with around nine months, the youngsters are independent.

Weißschwanzmangusten and people

These animals are widespread and include, according to the Red List of endangered species by the World Conservation Union IUCN to non- threatened species ( "Least Concern" ).

In some regions they are feared because they penetrate into poultry houses and the animals tear it.

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