Rhynchogale
| Meller's mongoose | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Herpestidae |
| Subfamily: | Herpestinae |
| Genus: |
Rhynchogale Thomas, 1894 |
| Species: | R. melleri |
| Binomial name | |
|
Rhynchogale melleri Gray, 1865 |
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| Meller's mongoose range (green - extant, pink - probably extant) |
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Meller's mongoose (Rhynchogale melleri) is a species of mongoose found in Africa. It occurs in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is the only member of the genus Rhynchogale.
Meller’s mongoose is a medium to large-size mongoose with a light to dark brown body and a long tail. It measures about 80 cm in length overall and weighs 2–3 kg. The tail is slightly less than half the overall length. The tail is variable in colour and may be black, brown or white, although dark brown to black is the most usual. At close quarters the upper parts of Meller’s mongoose are coarsely grizzled. The lower parts of the limbs are darker than the upper parts of the body. The under parts are generally lighter in colour than the upper parts. Meller’s mongoose may be confused with the white-tailed mongoose, however it is smaller and blacker overall than this species. It may also be confused with Selous’s and bushy-tailed mongooses.
Meller’s Mongoose ranges from central Tanzania south through Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, to Swaziland and northeastern South Africa. It has been recorded to 1,850m asl in Tanzania.
Meller’s mongoose is a savanna species, mainly associated with open woodland and grassland and marshy areas with termitaria. It is found in miombo (Brachystegia) woodlands in Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi and montane bamboo forests in Tanzania. It appears to require dense cover throughout the year and is rarely seen in areas where fires are extensive and frequent.
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Wikipedia