Subfamily Herpestinae Higher classification Rhynchogale | Phylum Chordata Family Herpestidae Scientific name Rhynchogale melleri Rank Species | |
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Genus RhynchogaleThomas, 1894 Similar Selous' mongoose, Pousargues's mongoose, Alexander's kusimanse, Angolan slender mongoose, Angolan kusimanse | ||
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.
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Description
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.
Range
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.
Habitat
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.
Behaviour
Meller’s mongoose is nocturnal, solitary and terrestrial. They do not appear until well after sunset and continue to be active until about midnight.
Status and abundance
Listed as Least Concern by IUCN, it is apparently uncommon to rare, but it may be easily overlooked or confused with other mongoose species.
Food
Meller’s mongoose feeds mainly on termites, particularly harvester termites (Hodotermes) and the larger Macrotermes. They also eat grasshoppers, small reptiles, centipedes, beetles and frogs.
Breeding
They appear to breed at the beginning of the wet season (November to December). 2-3 young are born in burrows or rock crevices. Females have two pairs of abdominal mammae.
Threats
There are no major known threats to the species. Its favoured habitat is extensive, and in some parts overlaps with very low human populations. However, human expansion and domestic dogs could represent a significant threat in localised areas. However, in parts of northern South Africa the species has been recorded in areas with high human and domestic dog disturbances.