What Is a Yellow Mongoose?

The yellow mongoose is a small member of the herpestidae, or mongoose family. It is an aggressive predator like its larger cousins, which are famous for tackling deadly cobras. In its home range the species is considered a dangerous pest due to the high incidence of rabies within the species. Farmers see the animals as a risk to both themselves and their livestock.

  1. Description

    • The yellow mongoose grows to over 2 1/2 feet in total length, with the tail making up almost a foot of the animal's body. It has a slender body shape and generally weighs no more than 2 lbs. Its fur is a reddish-yellow color, although this does vary by region. The mongoose's tail is thick, long and bushy, with a white tip. It has a pointed snout with rounded, fox-like ears and reddish-orange eyes. Front feet are small and have five toes, while rear feet have four digits.

    Habitat and Range

    • The species is native to and widely spread throughout southern Africa inhabiting countries such as Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe. It has a specialized habitat, preferring the open, arid semi-desert scrub regions throughout its range. Bare desert, forests and high altitude areas are generally avoided by the yellow mongoose. The animal lives in burrows that they can easily dig themselves. It does sometimes use already dug burrows that have been abandoned by ground squirrels or meerkats. These burrows are often complex and family groups will work communally to dig them.

    Diet and Predators

    • The bulk of a yellow mongoose's diet tends to include insects such as ants and beetles, but it does hunt larger vertebrates if given the chance. Small mammals, reptiles and amphibians are also common prey. The mongoose will raid nests for eggs which it will roll to a nearby stone upon which it breaks the egg open. Hunting mainly takes place during the day as does most other activity. Being such a small animal it is at risk from a number of predators including large snakes, predatory birds and carnivorous mammals such as jackals.

    Life Cycle

    • Yellow mongoose family groups usually center around a main breeding pair. Mating usually starts around July each year with the average pregnancy lasting just under two months. The young are born in a clean chamber of the burrow system with one to five babies possible in a litter. The offspring are weened from their mother's milk after 10 weeks and reach adult size after 10 months. Longevity in the wild is around 12 to 13 years.