HERPESTIDAE, Bonaparte, 1845

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2009, Herpestidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 1 Carnivores, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 262-328 : 262

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.5676639
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6554437
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/143F87B3-FFCC-FF8A-FD85-9932F85BFA8F
treatment provided by	Conny
scientific name	HERPESTIDAE
status

Treatment

Family HERPESTIDAE View in CoL

(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. View Figure

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

• 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.