Family HERPESTIDAE (MONGOOSES)

• Smallsized mammals with relatively uniform morphology characterized by a long face and body, short legs, small rounded ears, and long, tapering bushy tails.

• 34-151 cm.

• Old World tropics throughout Asia and Africa, also Middle East and southern Europe.

• Found in habitats ranging from open areas, such as deserts, savannah, and grasslands, to closed forest, over a wide elevation range, from lowlands to montane areas.

• 15 genera, 34 species, at least 84 extant taxa.

• 2 species Vulnerable; none Extinct since 1600.