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Herpestidae is a family of mammals in the order Carnivora, composed of the mongooses and the meerkat. A member of this family is called a mongoose or a herpestid. They are widespread primarily throughout Africa and south Asia, and are found primarily in forests, savannas, shrublands, and grasslands, though some species can be found in wetlands or deserts. Most mongooses are 30–60 cm (12–24 in) long, plus a 20–40 cm (8–16 in) tail, though the Ethiopian dwarf mongoose can be as small as 18 cm (7 in) plus a 12 cm (5 in) tail, and the white-tailed mongoose can be up to 104 cm (41 in) plus a 47 cm (14 in) tail. Most species do not have population estimates, though one, the Liberian mongoose, is classified as vulnerable with a population size of around 5,000. No herpestid species have been domesticated.

The 34 species of Herpestidae are split into 14 genera within 2 subfamilies: Herpestinae, comprising 23 extant species that are native to southern Europe, Africa and Asia, and Mungotinae, comprising 11 extant species native to Africa. Extinct species have also been placed into both subfamilies, though some older extinct species have not been categorized into a subfamily. Around ten extinct Herpestidae species have been discovered, though due to ongoing research and discoveries the exact number and categorization is not fixed. Herpestidae is believed to have diverged from the existing Feliformia suborder around 21.8 million years ago in the Early Miocene.[1]

Conventions

IUCN Red List categories
Conservation status
EX	Extinct (0 species)
EW	Extinct in the wild (0 species)
CR	Critically Endangered (0 species)
EN	Endangered (0 species)
VU	Vulnerable (1 species)
NT	Near threatened (3 species)
LC	Least concern (28 species)
Other categories
DD	Data deficient (1 species)
NE	Not evaluated (1 species)

Conservation status codes listed follow the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Range maps are provided wherever possible; if a range map is not available, a description of the herpestid's range is provided. Ranges are based on the IUCN Red List for that species unless otherwise noted.

Classification

The family Herpestidae consists of 34 extant species belonging to 15 genera in 2 subfamilies and divided into dozens of extant subspecies. This does not include hybrid species or extinct prehistoric species.

Herpestids

The following classification is based on the taxonomy described by Mammal Species of the World (2005), with augmentation by proposals accepted by the American Society of Mammalogists since using molecular phylogenetic analysis.[2][3]

Subfamily Herpestinae

Genus Atilax (F. Cuvier, 1826) – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Marsh mongoose	A. paludinosus F. Cuvier, 1829 Eleven subspecies A. p. macrodon A. p. mitis A. p. mordax A. p. nigerianus A. p. paludinosus A. p. pluto A. p. robustus A. p. rubellus A. p. rubescens A. p. spadiceus A. p. transvaalensis	Sub-Saharan Africa	Size: 46–64 cm (18–25 in) long, plus 31–41 cm (12–16 in) tail[4] Habitat: Forest, grassland, inland wetlands, neritic marine, and coastal marine[5] Diet: Primarily eats crustaceans as well as other aquatic prey and rodents[5]	LC  Unknown [5]

Genus Bdeogale (Peters, 1850) – three species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Black-footed mongoose	B. nigripes Pucheran, 1855	Central Africa	Size: 45–65 cm (18–26 in) long, plus 30–40 cm (12–16 in) tail[4] Habitat: Forest[6] Diet: Primarily eats mammals, as well as reptiles, birds, insects, and centipedes[6]	LC  Unknown [6]
Bushy-tailed mongoose	B. crassicauda Peters, 1852 Five subspecies B. c. crassicauda B. c. nigrescens B. c. omnivora B. c. puisa B. c. tenuis	Southeast Africa	Size: 36–52 cm (14–20 in) long, plus 22–29 cm (9–11 in) tail[4] Habitat: Forest, savanna, and shrubland[7] Diet: Omnivorous[7]	LC  Unknown [7]
Jackson's mongoose	B. jacksoni Thomas, 1894	East-central Africa	Size: 50–58 cm (20–23 in) long, plus 28–33 cm (11–13 in) tail[4] Habitat: Forest[8] Diet: Primarily eats rodents and insects[4][8]	NT  Unknown [8]

Genus Cynictis (Ogilby, 1833) – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Yellow mongoose	C. penicillata Cuvier, 1829 Twelve subspecies C. p. bechuanae C. p. brachyura C. p. bradfieldi C. p. cinderella C. p. coombsi C. p. intensa C. p. kalaharica C. p. karasensis C. p. lepturus C. p. ogilbyii C. p. pallidior C. p. penicillata	Southern Africa	Size: 26–46 cm (10–18 in) long, plus 16–30 cm (6–12 in) tail[4] Habitat: Savanna, shrubland, and grassland[9] Diet: Primarily eats insects, as well as rodents, birds, other vertebrates, and arachnids[9]	LC  Unknown [9]

Genus Herpestes (Illiger, 1811) – five species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Angolan slender mongoose	H. flavescens Bocage, 1889 Two subspecies H. f. flavescens H. f. nigratus (black mongoose)	Southwestern Africa	Size: 31–36 cm (12–14 in) long, plus 31–37 cm (12–15 in) tail[10] Habitat: Shrubland and rocky areas[11] Diet: Primarily eats invertebrates, small mammals, birds, lizards, and snakes[11]	LC  Unknown [11]
Egyptian mongoose	H. ichneumon Linnaeus, 1758 Eleven subspecies H. i. angolensis H. i. cafra H. i. centralis H. i. funestus H. i. ichneumon H. i. mababiensis H. i. numidicus H. i. parvidens H. i. sabiensis H. i. sangronizi H. i. widdringtonii	Sub-Saharan Africa, Nile river, and Mediterranean (native, green); Iberian peninsula (introduced, red)	Size: 48–60 cm (19–24 in) long, plus 33–55 cm (13–22 in) tail[12] Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, grassland, and inland wetlands[13] Diet: Omnivorous[13]	LC  Unknown [13]
Cape gray mongoose	H. pulverulentus Wagner, 1839 Three subspecies H. p. basuticus H. p. pulverulentus H. p. ruddi	Southern Africa	Size: 29–43 cm (11–17 in) long, plus 20–34 cm (8–13 in) tail[14] Habitat: Shrubland and inland wetlands[15] Diet: Primarily eats small mammals and insects[15]	LC  Unknown [15]
Common slender mongoose	H. sanguineus Rüppell, 1836 26 subspecies H. s. canus H. s. cauui H. s. dasilvai H. s. dentifer H. s. fulvidior H. s. galbus H. s. gracilis H. s. grantii H. s. ibeae H. s. ignitus H. s. lancasteri H. s. melanura H. s. mossambica H. s. mustela H. s. mutgigella H. s. orestes H. s. parvipes H. s. perfulvidus H. s. phoenicurus H. s. proteus H. s. rendilis H. s. saharae H. s. sanguinea H. s. swalius (Namaqua slender mongoose) H. s. swinnyi H. s. ugandae	Sub-Saharan Africa	Size: 27–35 cm (11–14 in) long, plus 19–33 cm (7–13 in) tail[10] Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, and grassland[16] Diet: Primarily eats small vertebrates and invertebrates[16]	LC  Unknown [16]
Somalian slender mongoose	H. ochraceus Gray, 1848 Four subspecies H. o. bocagei H. o. fulvidior H. o. ochracea H. o. perfulvidus	Eastern Africa	Size: 25–29 cm (10–11 in) long, plus 22–28 cm (9–11 in) tail[10] Habitat: Shrubland and desert[17] Diet: Believed to eat invertebrates and small vertebrates[10][17]	LC  Unknown [17]

Genus Ichneumia (Geoffroy, 1837) – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
White-tailed mongoose	I. albicauda Cuvier, 1829 Seven subspecies I. a. albicauda I. a. dialeucos I. a. grandis I. a. haagneri I. a. ibeanus I. a. loandae I. a. loempo	Sub-Saharan Africa, southern Arabic peninsula	Size: 51–104 cm (20–41 in) long, plus 34–47 cm (13–19 in) tail[4] Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, grassland, and inland wetlands[18] Diet: Primarily eats insects[18]	LC  Unknown [18]

Genus Paracynictis (Pocock, 1916) – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Selous's mongoose	P. selousi Winton, 1896 Four subspecies P. s. bechuanae P. s. ngamiensis P. s. selousi P. s. sengaani	Southern Africa	Size: 63–90 cm (25–35 in) long, plus 28–43 cm (11–17 in) tail[19] Habitat: Savanna and grassland[20] Diet: Primarily eats invertebrates, as well as small rodents, amphibians, reptiles, and birds[19][20]	LC  Unknown [20]

Genus Rhynchogale (Thomas, 1894) – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Meller's mongoose	R. melleri Gray, 1865 Two subspecies R. m. langi R. m. melleri	Southeastern Africa	Size: 36–57 cm (14–22 in) long, plus 30–42 cm (12–17 in) tail[4] Habitat: Forest, savanna, and shrubland[21] Diet: Primarily eats termites, as well as other invertebrates[4][21]	LC  Unknown [21]

Genus Urva (Hodgson, 1836) – nine species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Collared mongoose	U. semitorquata Gray, 1846 Two subspecies U. s. semitorquata U. s. uniforma	Borneo in Southeast Asia	Size: 40–46 cm (16–18 in) long, plus 25–31 cm (10–12 in) tail[10] Habitat: Forest[22] Diet: Unknown[10][22]	NT  Unknown [22]
Crab-eating mongoose	U. urva Hodgson, 1836 Four subspecies U. u. annamensis U. u. formosana U. u. sinensis U. u. urva	Eastern and Southeast Asia	Size: 45–50 cm (18–20 in) long, plus 25–30 cm (10–12 in) tail[23] Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and grassland[24] Diet: Primarily eats crustaceans, mammals, reptiles, insects, and amphibians[24]	LC  Unknown [24]
Indian brown mongoose	U. fusca Waterhouse, 1838 Five subspecies U. f. flavidens U. f. fusca U. f. maccarthiae U. f. rubidior U. f. siccata	South India, Sri Lanka	Size: 33–48 cm (13–19 in) long, plus 20–33 cm (8–13 in) tail[23] Habitat: Forest and grassland[25] Diet: Believed to eat a variety of small vertebrates and invertebrates[10][25]	LC  Unknown [25]
Indian grey mongoose	U. edwardsii Geoffroy, 1818 Five subspecies U. e. edwardsii U. e. ferruginea U. e. lanka U. e. montana U. e. nyula	India, west Asia	Size: 36–45 cm (14–18 in) long, plus 32–45 cm (13–18 in) tail[23] Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and grassland[26] Diet: Primarily eats small mammals, birds, reptiles, eggs, and invertebrates[10][26]	LC  Unknown [26]
Javan mongoose	U. javanica Geoffroy, 1818 Nine subspecies U. j. exilis H. j. javanica U. j. orientalis U. j. peninsulae U. j. perakensis U. j. rafflesii U. j. rubrifrons U. j. siamensis U. j. tjerapai	Southeast Asia	Size: 25–37 cm (10–15 in) long, plus 24–27 cm (9–11 in) tail[27] Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, grassland, and inland wetlands[28] Diet: Primarily eats invertebrates, as well as rodents, birds, snakes, lizards, frogs, fish, and fruit[27][28]	LC  Unknown [28]
Small Indian mongoose	U. auropunctata Hodgson, 1836 Three subspecies U. j. auropunctata U. j. pallipes U. j. palustris (Bengal mongoose)	West, south, and southeast Asia	Size: 25–37 cm (10–15 in) long, plus 24–27 cm (9–11 in) tail[27] Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, grassland, and inland wetlands[28] Diet: Primarily eats invertebrates, as well as rodents, birds, snakes, lizards, frogs, fish, and fruit[27][28]	LC  Unknown [28]
Ruddy mongoose	U. smithii Gray, 1837 Three subspecies U. s. smithii U. s. thysanura U. s. zeylania	India and Sri Lanka	Size: 39–45 cm (15–18 in) long, plus 35–47 cm (14–19 in) tail[23] Habitat: Forest and shrubland[29] Diet: Primarily eats rodents, birds, and reptiles[10][29]	LC  Unknown [29]
Short-tailed mongoose	U. brachyura Gray, 1837 Six subspecies U. b. brachyura U. b. hosei (Hose's mongoose) U. b. javanensis U. b. palawana U. b. parva U. b. sumatria	Southeast Asia	Size: 38–45 cm (15–18 in) long, plus 20–25 cm (8–10 in) tail[30] Habitat: Forest and shrubland[31] Diet: Eats invertebrates and small vertebrates[31]	NT  Unknown [31]
Stripe-necked mongoose	U. vitticolla Bennett, 1835 Two subspecies U. v. inornata U. v. vitticolla	Southern India and Sri Lanka	Size: 25–41 cm (10–16 in) long, plus 22–36 cm (9–14 in) tail[23] Habitat: Forest and shrubland[32] Diet: Eats small mammals, birds, birds' eggs, reptiles, fish, insects, and roots[32]	LC  Unknown [32]

Genus Xenogale (Allen, 1919) – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Long-nosed mongoose	X. naso Winton, 1901	Central Africa	Size: 40–61 cm (16–24 in) long, plus 32–43 cm (13–17 in) tail[4] Habitat: Forest and inland wetlands[33] Diet: Omnivorous[33]	LC  Unknown [33]

Subfamily Mungotinae

Genus Crossarchus (F. Cuvier, 1825) – four species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Alexander's kusimanse	C. alexandri Thomas, 1907	Central Africa	Size: 37–44 cm (15–17 in) long, plus 24–32 cm (9–13 in) tail[4] Habitat: Forest[34] Diet: Primarily eats invertebrates and fruit, as well as frogs, snakes, and carrion[4][34]	LC  Unknown [34]
Angolan kusimanse	C. ansorgei Thomas, 1910 Two subspecies C. a. ansorgei C. a. nigricolor	Central Africa	Size: 32–35 cm (13–14 in) long, plus 20–22 cm (8–9 in) tail[4] Habitat: Forest[35] Diet: Primarily eats insects, small vertebrates, and eggs[4][35]	LC  Unknown [35]
Common kusimanse	C. obscurus F. Cuvier, 1825	Western Africa	Size: 29–37 cm (11–15 in) long, plus 14–21 cm (6–8 in) tail[4] Habitat: Forest and savanna[4][36] Diet: Primarily eats insects, as well as reptiles, small mammals, and fruit[36]	LC  Unknown [36]
Flat-headed kusimanse	C. platycephalus Goldman, 1984	Western central Africa	Size: 21–47 cm (8–19 in) long, plus 15–21 cm (6–8 in) tail[37] Habitat: Forest and inland wetlands[38] Diet: Primarily eats insects, as well as reptiles, small mammals, and fruit[4][38]	LC  Unknown [38]

Genus Dologale (Thomas, 1926) – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Pousargues's mongoose	D. dybowskii Pousargues, 1893	Central Africa	Size: 24–30 cm (9–12 in) long, plus 16–22 cm (6–9 in) tail[4] Habitat: Forest, savanna, and grassland[39] Diet: Primarily eats invertebrates[4][39]	DD  Unknown [39]

Genus Helogale (Gray, 1862) – two species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Common dwarf mongoose	H. parvula Sundevall, 1847 Seven subspecies H. p. ivori H. p. mimetra H. p. nero H. p. parvula H. p. ruficeps H. p. undulatus H. p. varia	Southern and eastern Africa	Size: 18–23 cm (7–9 in) long, plus 14–19 cm (6–7 in) tail[4] Habitat: Savanna and grassland[40] Diet: Primarily eats arthropods, as well as small vertebrates[40]	LC  Unknown [40]
Ethiopian dwarf mongoose	H. hirtula Thomas, 1904 Five subspecies H. h. ahlselli H. h. annulata H. h. hirtula H. h. lutescens H. h. powelli	Eastern Africa	Size: 18–26 cm (7–10 in) long, plus 12–20 cm (5–8 in) tail[41] Habitat: Savanna, shrubland, and grassland[42] Diet: Primarily eats invertebrates[4][42]	LC  Unknown [42]

Genus Liberiictis (Hayman, 1958) – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Liberian mongoose	L. kuhni Hayman, 1958	Western Africa	Size: 42–55 cm (17–22 in) long, plus 18–21 cm (7–8 in) tail[4] Habitat: Forest[43] Diet: Primarily eats earthworms, as well as small vertebrates, insect larvae, and fruit[43]	VU  5,200 [43]

Genus Mungos (Geoffroy, 1795) – two species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Banded mongoose	M. mungo Gmelin, 1788 Sixteen subspecies M. m. adailensis (Adail banded mongoose) M. m. bororensis (Boror banded mongoose) M. m. caurinus (North-west banded mongoose) M. m. colonus (East African banded mongoose) M. m. grisonax (Namibia banded mongoose) M. m. mandjarum (Schwarz's banded mongoose) M. m. marcrurus M. m. mungo M. m. ngamiensis (Botswana banded mongoose) M. m. pallidipes M. m. rossi M. m. senescens M. m. somalicus M. m. talboti (Talbot's banded mongoose) M. m. zebra M. m. zebroides	Sub-Saharan Africa	Size: 30–40 cm (12–16 in) long, plus 19–31 cm (7–12 in) tail[4] Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, and grassland[44] Diet: Primarily eats insects, as well as other invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians, bird eggs, young birds, small mammals, and fruit[44]	LC  Unknown [44]
Gambian mongoose	M. gambianus Ogilby, 1835	Western Africa	Size: 34–36 cm (13–14 in) long, plus 20–22 cm (8–9 in) tail[4] Habitat: Forest and savanna[45] Diet: Primarily eats insects, as well as lizards, mice, and snakes[4][45]	LC  Unknown [45]

Genus Suricata (Desmarest, 1804) – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Meerkat	S. suricatta Schreber, 1776 Three subspecies S. s. iona S. s. marjoriae S. s. suricatta	Southern Africa	Size: 23–36 cm (9–14 in) long, plus 18–24 cm (7–9 in) tail[4] Habitat: Savanna, shrubland, grassland, and desert[46] Diet: Primarily eats invertebrates[46]	LC  Unknown [46]

Prehistoric herpestids

In addition to extant herpestids, a number of prehistoric species have been discovered and classified as a part of herpestidae. There is no generally accepted classification of extinct herpestid species. In addition to being placed within extant genera in the extant subfamilies Herpestinae and Mungotinae, several have not been classified within a subfamily. The species listed here are based on data from the Paleobiology Database. Where available, the approximate time period the species was extant is given in millions of years before the present (Mya), also based on data from the Paleobiology Database.[47] All listed species are extinct; where a genus or subfamily within herpestidae comprises only extinct species, it is indicated with a dagger symbol .

• Subfamily Herpestinae
  • Genus Herpestes (16 Mya–present)
    • H. abdelalii (3.6–2.5 Mya)
    • H. auropunctatus
    • H. gracilis
    • H. microdon
    • H. rubrifons
  • Genus Ichneumia (3.6 Mya–present)
    • I. nims (3.6–2.5 Mya)

• Subfamily Mungotinae
  • Genus Crossarchus
    • C. zebra

• Unclassified
  • Genus Kichechia (21–15 Mya)
    • K. savagei (21–15 Mya)
    • K. zamanae (21–15 Mya)
  • Genus Legetetia
  • Genus Ugandictis (21–15 Mya)
    • U. napakensis (21–15 Mya)

References

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