MAMMAL MONDAY # 34

MAMMAL MONDAY # 34

We’re back to regular schedule today! We hope you enjoyed Moms week! We’re off to the savannas of Africa today to meet a sturdy little mammal! These social mammals are full of personality and spunk! Grab your safari outfit and your sunscreen and let’s head out!

MEET THE BANDED MONGOOSE!

   Range/Habitat: Central-South Africa/ grasslands

   Diet: Carnivore: beetles, eggs, termites

   Length/Weight: 12-18”/ 3 ¼-5 ½ lb

   Conservation Status: common

Fun Facts:

• Banded Mongooses have coarse fur with tan bands down their back.
• They live in social groups of 15-20 individuals.
• They live in dens or abandoned termite mounds. They change dens every few days.
• Banded mongooses forage for food in groups at dawn and dusk.
• Clans of banded mongooses are territorial.
• They are known to live among troops of baboons, foraging together.
• Banded mongooses have also been seen cleaning bugs off warthogs!

Wow! Banded mongooses are really neat little animals! They are very social and smart!  There’s a really cool banded mongoose research project too! Check out their website!