14.

Angolan Slender Mongoose

Galerella flavescens

French: Mangouste flavescente / German: Kaokoveld-Schlankichneumon / Spanish: Mangosta angolena

Other common names: Kaokoveld Slender Mongoose, Black Mongoose, Larger Red Mongoose

Taxonomy. Herpestes gracilis var. flavescens Bocage, 1889.

“Benguella”, Namibia.

Formerly classified as a subspecies of the Common Slender Mongoose (G. sanguinea) or of the Cape Gray Mongoose (G. pulwverulenta). Three subspecies of uncertain status (annulata, nigrata, and shortridger) have been described. Pending revision, all should are considered here as synonyms of G. flavescens.

Distribution. SW Angola and NW Namibia.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 33.5-35. 5 cm (males), 31-33 cm (females), tail 32.5-36. 2 cm (males), 34-34. 5 cm (females), hindfoot 6.9-7. 2 cm (males), 6.4-6. 6 cm females, ear 2:7.2-8 cm (males), 2.4-2. 5 cm (females); weight similar to that of the Common Slender Mongoose. A small mongoose, with a long slender body and long tail (equal to body length). Variable body and tail color, generally either reddish (from chestnut to yellow; shortridgei) or dark brown to black (nigrata). Skull length 63-68 mm (males larger than females). Skull larger than the Common Slender Mongoose and smaller than the Cape Gray Mongoose.

Habitat. Appears to select arid areas, with limited bushy cover, but avoids true deserts (such as the Namib and surrounding areas). The black form (nigrata) seems to strongly select scattered granite boulders, avoiding areas in between.

Food and Feeding. Preys on a variety of small rodents, birds, reptiles, and insects. Also feeds on sarcophagous arthropods in and around carrion, and fleshy seeds when available.

Activity patterns. Appears to be diurnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Normally seen singly, sometimes in groups of two or three. Up to five observed within 30 m of a kudu carcass. Intraspecific fights can occur close to an abundant resource such as carrion. In the Erongo Mountains (Namibia), the home range of a radio-tracked male was 145 ha.

Breeding. Nothing known.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern in The IUCN Red List. No significant threats are known and occurs in a number of protected areas.

Bibliography. Crawford-Cabral (1996), Rathbun (2004), Rathbun et al. (2005), Taylor (In press b), Taylor & Goldman (1993).