Mongooses

The most common mongoose is the small Indian mongoose (Herpestes javanicus). This animal is not only widespread in its own homeland, but it has been introduced to other places because of its skill at killing rats. It is now found in the West Indies and the Hawaiian Islands for that reason. However, these introduced mongooses cause great ecological damage, and are largely or partly responsible for the extinction or endangerment of numerous species of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and small mammals.

The Liberian mongoose (Liberiictis kuhni) was not discovered by the outside world until 1958. At the time, it was a favorite food of native peoples in Liberia, in tropical western Africa. It has not been seen often since, and may be extinct.

There are four species (one each in four genera) of mongoose on the island of Madagascar, off eastern Africa. They are in a separate subfamily because they have a slightly different ear structure than the African and Asian species. They are also probably the only mongooses that live in pairs. One species, the ring-tailed mongoose (Galidia elegans) is more comfortable in trees than on the ground, although it also swims. Two species have more definite lengthwise stripes on them than other mongooses. The Malagasy narrow-striped mongoose (Mungotictis decemlineata) and Malagasy broad-striped mongoose (Galidictis fasciata) are striped in black and beige. The Madagascar mongooses are endangered species, mostly because of habitat loss and hunting.