 Yellow Mongoose (Cynictis penicillata)
Description. The yellow mongoose is
a small sleek animal with a tawny yellowish coat. Its bushy tail and
relatively large, rounded ears gives the yellow mongoose a fox-like
appearance. The tail of the southern variant is white tipped. The
forefeet have five digits while the hindfeet have four. The first digit
in the forefoot is raised above the rest of the digits and it does not
make an impression in the spoor.
Size. About the size of a small cat,
this mammal averages about 1 lb (1/2 kg) in weight and about 20 in (500
mm) in length. Males and females do not differ in size.
Habitat. Yellow mongooses live
in complex burrows and are said to prefer semi-arid, open
habitats such as grasslands, so it was a pleasant surprise to see one
in a partially wooded section of Wildcliff.
Behavior. The yellow mongoose
is primarily diurnal, spending most of its day foraging. It may sit
upright on its hind legs, Meerkat-style, so as to get a better view of
its surroundings. While these
mongooses are often seen alone, they are known to live in large family
groups in
permanent burrows and thus are considered social animals. Colonies
are usually centered around a family group consisting of a dominant
male and a female, their youngest offspring, and other, subordinate or
older, adults. Alpha males mark their territories with urine and anal
secretions.
Diet. The yellow mongoose is a
carnivore, living msotly on arthropods but sometimes on small mammals.
Studies have found their diet to include beetles (adult and
larval forms), termites, locusts, caterpillars, ants, mice, birds,
grass, seeds, reptiles, and amphibians.
Predators. In the Langeberg area,
leopards, caracal, snakes and raptors.
Reproduction.
Mating takes place in winter, typically beginning in early July, with
births occurring from September to December. The young are born
in burrows and are weaned after about 10 weeks. An
alpha pair usually monopolizes breeding.
On Wildcliff.
First spotted in February 2008 alonside Fynbos Road, north of Pine Hill
at approximately 33º57.35'N, 21º02.40'E.
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