Paracynictis
| Selous' mongoose | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Herpestidae |
| Genus: |
Paracynictis Pocock, 1916 |
| Species: | P. selousi |
| Binomial name | |
|
Paracynictis selousi (de Winton, 1896) |
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| Selous' mongoose range | |
Selous' mongoose /səˈluːz/ (Paracynictis selousi) is a carnivore of southern Africa. It is the only member of the genus Paracynictis in the mongoose family.
Subspecies:
The species of mongoose is endemic to Southern Africa. Its range includes Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and South Africa.
The Selous’s mongoose has a total length of 63–90 cm and a tail length of 28–43 cm. It weighs about 1.4-2.0 kg. The body of the mongoose ranges from pale speckled grey to tawny grey with a pale underside, while the legs are brown or black. The tail of the mongoose is white at the tip, making it identifiable from the white-tailed mongoose, which has a tail that is ¾ white. The Selous’s mongoose is also smaller and more slender than the white-tailed mongoose. The mongoose has four digits on each limb and long, slightly curved claws that are associated with digging. The main difference between the sexes is that the female Selous’s mongoose has three pairs of nipples on her underside, while the male does not.
The Selous’s mongoose is a nocturnal species, but has been observed above ground during the day. Although usually solitary, mongooses will sometimes form pairs, and it is not uncommon to see females with young. The Selous’s mongoose digs its own burrows, but may opportunistically use those of other animals.
The Selous’s mongoose lives primarily in open scrub and woodland. It does not inhabit either forests or arid areas. The species lives in labyrinthine, underground burrows of its own construction.
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Wikipedia