Mongooses are a diverse group of small terrestrial, carnivorous mammals belonging to the family Herpestidae. This family is currently split into two subfamilies, the Herpestinae and the Mungotinae. The Mungotinae comprises 11 species all native to Africa. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the English word ‘mongoose’ used to be spelled ‘mungoose’, the name being derived from Indian name muṅgūs for Herpestes species. The scientific names (Mungos mungo) are also derived from this origin. The plural form is ‘mongooses’; not ‘mongeese’.
There are eight diverse species of mongoose to be found in the Kruger National Park (KNP) and of these, most are solitary. Only the dwarf mongoose (Helogale parvula) (see KRUGER MAGAZINE Issue 11 Autumn 2020) and the banded mongoose are gregarious.
‘Bandeds’ are fascinating animals that live in groups, usually referred to as ‘packs’, but perhaps ‘bands’ would be more appropriate!
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