Mongoose

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Revision as of 23:06, 30 March 2025 by imported>Tamfang (→Characteristics: balance that comma!)
(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Script error: No such module "about". Template:Pp-protected Template:Use dmy dates Template:Automatic taxobox

A mongoose is a small terrestrial carnivorous mammal belonging to the family Herpestidae. This family has two subfamilies, the Herpestinae and the Mungotinae. The Herpestinae comprises 23 living species that are native to southern Europe, Africa and Asia, whereas the Mungotinae comprises 11 species native to Africa. The Herpestidae originated about Template:Mya in the Early Miocene and genetically diverged into two main lineages between 19.1 and Template:Mya. There is a large introduced population on the islands of Hawaii. Mongoose diets are varied but consist of mainly insects, hatchlings, reptiles and birds.

Etymology

The name is derived from names used in India for Herpestes species:[1][2][3][4] Script error: No such module "Lang". or Script error: No such module "Lang". in classical Hindi;[5] Script error: No such module "Lang". in Marathi;[6] Script error: No such module "Lang". in Telugu;[7] Script error: No such module "Lang"., Script error: No such module "Lang". and Script error: No such module "Lang". in Kannada.[8]

The form of the English name (since 1698) was altered to its "-goose" ending by folk etymology.[9] It was spelled "mungoose" in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The plural form is "mongooses".[10]

Characteristics

Mongooses have long faces and bodies, small, rounded ears, short legs, and long, tapering tails. Most are brindled or grizzly; a few have strongly marked coats which bear a striking resemblance to mustelids. Their markings consist of dark legs, stripes, and pale ringed tails. They have narrow, ovular pupils and nonretractile claws. Most species have a large anal scent gland, used for territorial marking and signaling reproductive status,[11] and a short and smooth penis with a baculum and an elongated urethral opening on its underside.[12] The dental formula of mongooses is Template:DentalFormula. They range from Template:Cvt in head-to-body length, excluding the tail. In weight, they range from Template:Cvt to Template:Cvt.[11]

Mongooses are one of at least four known mammalian taxa with mutations in the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor that protect against snake venom.[13] Their modified receptors prevent the snake venom α-neurotoxin from binding. These represent four separate, independent mutations. In the mongoose, this change is effected, uniquely, by glycosylation.[14]

Taxonomy

Herpestina was a scientific name proposed by Charles Lucien Bonaparte in 1845 who considered the mongooses a subfamily of the Viverridae.[15] In 1864, John Edward Gray classified the mongooses into three subfamilies: Galidiinae, Herpestinae and Mungotinae.[16] This grouping was supported by Reginald Innes Pocock in 1919, who referred to the family as "Mungotidae".[17]

Genetic research based on nuclear and mitochondrial DNA analyses revealed that the Galidiinae are more closely related to Madagascar carnivores, including the fossa and Malagasy civet.[18][19] Galidiinae is considered a subfamily of Eupleridae.[20]

Subfamily Genus Species Image of type species
Herpestinae Herpestes Illiger, 1811Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[21] File:Herpestes ichneumon Египетский мангуст, или фараонова крыса, или ихневмо́н.jpg
Atilax Cuvier, 1826Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[27] Marsh mongoose (A. paludinosus) (Cuvier, 1829)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[28] File:Marsh mongoose or water mongoose, Atilax paludinosus, at Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Gauteng, South Africa (22548192738).jpg
Cynictis Ogilby, 1833Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[29] Yellow mongoose (C. penicillata) (Cuvier, 1829)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[28] File:Fuchsmanguste 2.jpg
Urva Hodgson, 1836Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[30] File:Urva urva 77938111.jpg
Ichneumia Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1837Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[36] White-tailed mongoose (I. albicauda) (Cuvier, 1829)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[28] File:White-tailed mongoose (Ichneumia albicauda), crop.jpg
Bdeogale Peters, 1850Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[37] File:Bushy-tailed mongoose - Snapshot Safari Ruaha1.jpg
Rhynchogale Thomas, 1894Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[43] Meller's mongoose (R. melleri) Gray, 1865Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[16] File:Smit.m.rhinogale.melleri.white.background.jpg
Paracynictis Pocock, 1916Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Selous's mongoose (P. selousi) (de Winton, 1896)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". File:Paracynictis selousi Smit.jpg
Xenogale Allen, 1919Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[44] Long-nosed mongoose (X. naso) (de Winton, 1901)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[45] File:Long-nosed mongoose (without bg).png
Mungotinae Mungos E. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire & F. Cuvier, 1795Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[46] File:Banded mongoose (Mungos mungo).jpg
Suricata Desmarest, 1804Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[49] Meerkat (S. suricatta) (Schreber, 1776)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[50] File:Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) (32993685706).jpg
Crossarchus Cuvier, 1825Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". File:Crossarchus obscurus Plzen zoo 02.2011.jpg
Helogale Gray, 1861Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". File:Helogale parvula, Serengeti.jpg
Dologale Thomas, 1920Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Pousargues's mongoose (D. dybowskii) Pousargues, 1894Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[51] File:Dologale Dybowskii - Chinko Project Area - 20120516.jpg
Liberiictis Hayman, 1958Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Liberian mongoose (L. kuhni) Hayman, 1958Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Phylogenetic relationships

Phylogenetic research of 18 mongoose species revealed that the solitary and social mongooses form different clades.[52] The phylogenetic relationships of Herpestidae are shown in the following cladogram:[53][54] Template:Clade

Extinct species

Atilax Cuvier, 1826Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

  • †A. mesotes Ewer 1956Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Herpestes Illiger, 1811Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Leptoplesictis Major, 1903Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[55]

  • †L. atavus Beaumont, 1973
  • †L. aurelianensis Schlosser, 1888
  • †L. filholi Gaillard, 1899
  • †L. mbitensis Schmidt-Kittler, 1987
  • †L. namibiensis Morales et al., 2008
  • †L. peignei, Grohé et al., 2020
  • †L. rangwai Schmidt-Kittler, 1987
  • †L. senutae Morales et al., 2008

Behaviour and ecology

Some mongoose species are solitary, while others live in pairs or large groups.[56] Some species can learn simple tricks, and are kept as pets to control vermin.[57]

Cultural significance

In ancient Mesopotamia, mongooses were sacred to the deity Ninkilim, who was conflated with Ningirama, a deity of magic who was invoked for protection against serpents. According to a Babylonian popular saying, when a mouse fled from a mongoose into a serpent's hole, it announced, "I bring you greetings from the snake-charmer!" A creature resembling a mongoose also appears in Old Babylonian glyptic art, but its significance is not known.[58]

All mongoose species, except for Suricata suricatta, are classed as a "prohibited new organism" under New Zealand's Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996, preventing them from being imported into the country.[59] Template:More citations needed A well-known fictional mongoose is Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, who appears in a short story of the same title in The Jungle Book (1894) by Rudyard Kipling. In this tale set in India, a young pet mongoose saves his human family from a krait and from Nag and Nagaina, two cobras. The story was later made into several films and a song by Donovan, among other references. A mongoose is also featured in Bram Stoker's novel The Lair of the White Worm. The main character, Adam Salton, purchases one to independently hunt snakes. Another mongoose features in the denouement of the Sherlock Holmes story "The Adventure of the Crooked Man", by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The Indian Tamil devotional film Padai Veetu Amman shows Tamil actor Vinu Chakravarthy changing himself into a mongoose by using his evil tantric mantra, to fight the goddess Amman. However, the mongoose finally dies at the hands of the goddess.

Mongoose species are prohibited to be kept as pets in the United States.[60]

See also

References

Template:Reflist

Further reading

  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".

External links

Template:Sister project Template:Sister project

Template:Carnivora Template:Taxonbar

  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". Template:In lang
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  37. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  38. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  39. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  41. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  42. ↑ Template:Cite iucn
  43. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  44. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  45. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  46. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  47. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  48. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  49. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  50. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  51. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  52. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  53. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  54. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  55. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  56. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  57. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  58. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  59. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  60. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
Retrieved from "http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?title=Mongoose&oldid=147402"