View source for Yellow mongoose

{{short description|Species of mongoose in Africa}}
{{more footnotes|date=January 2015}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Yellow mongoose
| image = Cynictis penicillata (Etosha, 2011).jpg
| image_caption = An adult yellow mongoose in [[Etosha]]
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name=iucn>{{cite iucn  |title=''Cynictis penicillata''|author=Do Linh San, E. |author2=Cavallini, P. |author3=Taylor, P. |date=2015 |page=e.T41597A45205726 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T41597A45205726.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref>
| genus = Cynictis
| parent_authority = [[William Ogilby|Ogilby]], 1833
| species = penicillata
| authority = ([[Georges Cuvier|Cuvier]], 1829)
| range_map = Yellow Mongoose area.png
| range_map_caption = Yellow mongoose range
}}

The '''yellow mongoose''' ('''''Cynictis penicillata'''''), sometimes referred to as the '''red meerkat''', is a member of the [[mongoose]] family. It averages about {{cvt|1|lb|order=flip}} in weight and about {{cvt|20|in|order=flip}} in length. It lives in open country, [[semi-desert]] [[scrubland]] and [[grasslands]] in [[Angola]], [[Botswana]], [[South Africa]], [[Namibia]], and [[Zimbabwe]]. It is the [[monotypic taxon|only species]] in the [[genus]] '''''Cynictis'''''.

==Taxonomy==
{{stack|[[File:Yellow Mongoose Klipriviersberg Johannesburg.jpg|right|250px]]}}
''Herpestes penicillatus'' was the [[scientific name]] proposed by [[Georges Cuvier]] in 1829 for a mongoose specimen from the Cape.<ref>{{cite book |author=Cuvier, G. |year=1829 |title=Le règne animal distribué d'après son organisation, pour servir de base à l'histoire naturelle des animaux et d'introduction à l'anatomie comparée |chapter=Les Mangoustes. Cuv. (Herpestes, Illiger) |publisher=Chez Déterville |location=Paris |pages=157–158 |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/lergneanimaldi01regn/page/158}}</ref>
The generic name ''Cynictis'' was proposed by [[William Ogilby]] in 1833 for a specimen collected in [[Kaffraria]].<ref>{{cite journal |author=Ogilby, W. |year=1833 |title=Characters of a new Genus of carnivorous Mammalia from the collection of Mr. Steedman |journal=Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London |issue=Part 1 |pages=48–49 |url=https://archive.org/details/lietuvostsrmoksl33liet/page/n61/mode/2up}}</ref>

The yellow mongoose is the [[Monotypic taxon|only member]] of the [[genus]] ''Cynictis''; 12 [[subspecies]] have been described, but their status is unclear.<ref name=MSW3>{{MSW3 Carnivora |id=14000508 |page=564 |heading=Species ''Cynictis penicillata''}}</ref> At least four subspecies have been recognised:<ref>{{Cite book |last=Skinner |first=J. D. |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/mammals-of-the-southern-african-subregion/5C2E1D1A9BD464C8A0F3D5A550595AFA |title=The Mammals of the Southern African Sub-region |last2=Chimimba |first2=C. T. |date=2005 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-84418-5 |edition=3 |location=Cambridge |doi=10.1017/cbo9781107340992}}</ref>
* Grizzled yellow mongoose (''C. p. coombsi'')
* Natal yellow mongoose (''C. p. natalensis'')
* Southern yellow mongoose (''C. p. penicillata'')

== Characteristics ==
In general, the yellow mongoose has lighter highlights on the underbelly and chin, a bushy tail, and a complete lack of [[sexual dimorphism]]. Southern yellow mongooses are larger, have yellow or reddish fur, longer fur, and a longer [[tail]] with a characteristic white tip. Northern subspecies tend towards smaller size, grey colouration, a grey or darker grey tip to the tail, and shorter hair more appropriate to the hotter climate.

==Behaviour and ecology==
[[File:Fuchsmanguste 2.jpg|thumb|Yellow mongoose]]
The yellow mongoose is primarily [[diurnal animal|diurnal]], though [[nocturnal]] activity has been observed. Living in colonies of up to 20 individuals in a permanent [[burrow]] complex, the yellow mongoose will often co-exist with [[Cape ground squirrel]]s or [[suricate]]s and share maintenance of the warren, adding new tunnels and burrows as necessary. The tunnel system has many entrances, nearby which the yellow mongoose makes its [[latrine (animal)|latrine]]s.

The yellow mongoose is a [[carnivore]], feeding mostly on [[beetle]]s, [[termites]], [[grasshoppers]], [[crickets]], [[caterpillar]]s, and [[ant]]s, but also on [[rodents]], small [[bird]]s, [[reptile]]s, [[amphibian]]s, [[carrion]], [[egg]]s, [[grass]], and [[seed]]s.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Cynictis_penicillata/ | title=Cynictis penicillata (Yellow mongoose) | website=[[Animal Diversity Web]] }}</ref> In urban environments in South Africa, it also forages among human food garbage.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Cronk |first1=E. |last2=Pillay |first2=N. |date=2019 |title=Flexible Use of Urban Resources by the Yellow Mongoose ''Cynictis penicillata'' |journal=Animals |volume=9 |issue=7 |pages=447  |doi=10.3390/ani9070447|pmid=31315216 |pmc=6680935 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

===Social structure===
[[File:Cynictis penicillata, Lake District Wildlife Park.jpg|thumb|A yellow mongoose in Lake District Wildlife Park, Cumbria, northwestern England]]
The [[Presociality|social structure]] of the yellow mongoose is [[hierarchy|hierarchical]], based around a central breeding pair and their most recent offspring. There are also subadults, the elderly, or adult relatives of the central pair. Male ranges tend to overlap, while females from other dens have contiguous non-overlapping ranges. Every day, the alpha male will mark members of his group with anal gland secretions, and his boundaries with facial and anal secretions, as well as urine. The alpha male also rubs his back against raised objects, leaving behind hair as a visual [[territorial marking|marker of territory]]. Other members of the group mark their dens with cheek secretions. A colony can have 20-40 members.

===Predators===
[[Predator]]s of the yellow mongoose are [[birds of prey]], [[snake]]s and [[jackal]]s. When frightened, the yellow mongoose will growl and secrete from its anal glands. It can also scream, bark, and purr, though these are exceptions, as the yellow mongoose is usually silent, and communicates mood and status through tail movements.

===Reproduction===
[[File:Cynictis_penicillata_mating2.jpg|thumb|Yellow mongooses mating]]
The yellow mongoose's mating season is between July and September, and it gives birth underground between October and December, with no bedding material, in a clean chamber of the [[burrow]] system. Usually, two offspring are produced per pregnancy, and they are [[wean]]ed at 10 weeks, reaching adult size after 10 months.

===Rabies===
There is some concern about the yellow mongoose's role as a [[natural reservoir]] of [[rabies]]. Most African wild animals die within several weeks of infection with rabies, but it seems that certain genetic strains of the yellow mongoose can carry it asymptomatically, but infectiously, for years.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Taylor, P.J. |title=A systematic and population genetic approach to the rabies problem in the yellow mongoose (''Cynictis penicillata'') |journal=Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research |volume=60 |issue=4 |pages=379–387 |date=1993 |pmid=7777324 |url=https://repository.up.ac.za/bitstream/handle/2263/33125/54taylor1993.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*N.L. Avenant; J.A.J. Nel: "Comparison of the diet of the yellow mongoose in a coastal and a Karoo area" in ''South African Journal of Wildlife Research'' (1992), Volume: 22, p.&nbsp;89–93.
*O.A.E. [[Anne Rasa|Rasa]]; B.A. Wenhold; P. Howard; A. Marais: "Reproduction in the yellow mongoose revisited" in ''South African Journal of Zoology'' (1992), Vol. 27, No. 4, p.&nbsp;192.
*B.A. Wenhold; O.A.E. Rasa: "Territorial marking in the Yellow mongoose Cynictis penicillata: sexual advertisement for subordinates?" in ''Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde'' (1994), Vol.59, No.3, p.&nbsp;129.

==External links==
*{{Wikispecies-inline|Cynictis penicillata}}
*{{Commons-inline|Cynictis penicillata}}

{{Carnivora|F.}}
{{Feliformia|Her.|state=collapsed}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q732544}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:mongoose, yellow}}
[[Category:Mongooses of Africa|yellow mongoose]]
[[Category:Mammals of Southern Africa]]
[[Category:Mammals described in 1829|yellow mongoose]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Georges Cuvier|yellow mongoose]]