Cynictis penicillata, Ogilby, 1833

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2009, Herpestidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 1 Carnivores, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 262-328 : 315

13.

Yellow Mongoose

Cynictis penicillata

French: Mangouste fauve / German: Fuchsmanguste / Spanish: Mangosta dorada

Taxonomy. Herpestes penicillatus Cuvier, 1829 ,

type locality “ Cape ” ( South Africa).

The wide color variation has resulted in the description of up to twelve subspecies, which are now mostly considered invalid. Three subspecies are recognized here.

Subspecies and Distribution.

C. p. penicillata Cuvier, 1829 — South Africa, and Lesotho.

C. p. bradfieldi Roberts, 1924 — S Angola, N Botswana, Namibia, and W Zimbabwe.

C. p. coombsii Roberts, 1929 — S Botswana and Northern Transvaal.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 26.5-46 cm,tail 15-29. 2 cm, hindfoot 6.1-7. 8 cm, ear 2:4.3-9 cm; weight 715-900 g. Males and females are similar in size. A tawny to grayishyellow colored mongoose, with a long bushy tail. The tail coloris similar to the dorsal pelage. The ears are relatively large and project above the line of the head; their anterior margins are pallid, with a tuft of pale hairs partially covering the ear opening. Body size and pelage color are highly variable geographically. Southern specimens are largerssized, with a dark tawny (reddish-brown) dorsal pelage; the ventral pelage, legs, chin, and throat are pale buffy cream; the tail ends in a pure to dirty-white tail-tip. Northern specimens are distinctly smaller, with a grizzled dorsal pelage; the ventral pelage, legs, chin, and throat, are pure creamy-white; the tail is without a white tip. There are five digits on the forefeet, four on the hindfeet. The sole of the hindfoot is more hairy; the forefoot palm is naked to the wrist. Cheek glands are present and used for marking of objects. There are three pairs of mammae. The skull is pear-shaped with a post-orbital bar complete in adults. The rostrum is short and broad, the zygomatic arches are weak, and the supra-occipital crest little more than a slight ridge. Dental formula: C3/3,11/1,P 4/4, M 2/2 = 40; the upper and lower P, are sometimes absent (especially the latter).

Habitat. Found in semi-arid, open habitats, from sparse bushland to grasslands and semi-deserts. Avoids dense bushes, woodlands, deserts, and mountains. Requires the presence of soft or sandy soils for digging dens, although it often occupies existing dens of South African Ground Squirrels (Xerus inauris) or Meerkats.

Food and Feeding. Predominantly insectivorous, preferring Isoptera (termites: Hodotermes, Trinervitermes, Microhodotermes), Coleoptera (beetle larvae and adults), and Orthoptera (locusts and grasshoppers). However, Yellow Mongooses are opportunistic feeders and will also hunt rodents, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and arachnids (scorpions and spiders). The diet varies both geographically and seasonally. In Botswana, the percentage occurrence of prey items in 54 stomachs was: 92% insects, 15% small mammals (murids), 13% scorpions, 11% reptiles, 4% Myriapoda, 2% birds, and 2% amphibians. In the former Transvaal ( South Africa), the percentage occurrence of prey items in 76 stomachs was: 87% invertebrates (mostly termites and locusts) and 28% vertebrates (including mammals, birds, and amphibians). In the Western Cape ( South Africa), the percentage occurrence in 332 scats was: 90% insects (mostly Isoptera), 40% rodents (including Bush Vlei Rat Otomys unisulcatus, Four-striped Grass Mouse Rhabdomys pumilio, Pygmy Mouse Mus minutoides), 12% birds, and 13% reptiles; the occurrence of rodents varied during the year according to the fluctuating population densities of rodents. In the Karoo ( South Africa), 86 scats contained: 100% insects (mostly Coleoptera and Orthoptera), 10% birds, and 3% rodents. In the Free State ( South Africa), the percentage occurrence in 156 stomachs was 74% Isoptera; 48% Orthoptera, 42% Coleoptera , 22% Lepidoptera; vertebrates and other invertebrate groups occurred at much lower percentages. In central South Africa, the analysis of 95 stomachs found rodents to have a higher occurrence than insects. Yellow Mongooses are also known to feed occasionally on fruits and carrion (such as Common Duiker Sylvicapra grimmia and South African Spring Hare Pedetes capensis). They may also eat hens and their eggs, but anecdotal reports of preying on newborn lambs are considered false. Yellow Mongooses usually forage individually, but they have been seen in pairs or in small groups. Foraging typically occurs during the early morning and late afternoon. On the west coast of South Africa, a radio-tracking study indicated that 37% of the time was spent foraging. In the Eastern Cape, they have been observed feeding throughout the day, except during the hottest days of the summer.

Activity patterns. Mainly diurnal. During the night they rest in dens, which they enter around sunset and exit shortly after sunrise. Yellow Mongooses occasionally rest around midday for variable periods of time. They can become active at night, especially in cases of exceptional food availability (e.g. termites swarming).

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Yellow Mongooses are solitary foragers, but spend nights in communal dens and cooperate in raising their young. Mean group size varies from 1-13, but is usually three or four. The group typically comprises a dominant male, with separate hierarchies for the subordinate females and males. Juveniles are the lowest ranking. To assess dominancestatus, two individuals approach one another and sniff each other’s facial glands. The dominant individual rises higher on its feet while biting the subordinate’s neck. The subordinate lies on its side and may emit a high-pitched scream. A dominant individual marks a subordinate by straddling it from above and using the anal glands in a standing position. In one colony, the dominant male marked colony members on a daily basis. In another colony, the dominant male was not involved in dominance interactions, but high-ranking subordinates deferred to the dominant males, and in turn dominated lower ranking members. In South Africa (West Coast National Park), the mean home range of three males was 1 km? (range = 0-7 to 1-2), and 0-3 km? for four females (range = 0-1-0-5). Overlap among males was substantial and individual home ranges overlapped those of several females, while the ranges of females in different burrows showed almost no overlap. Males and females move similar distances per hour (mean = 292 m /h and 228 m /h, respectively); males move an average ofjust over 3 km per day. Yellow Mongooses are partly nomadic, and may rotate the use of several burrow systems on different nights, within a much larger territory. Defecation takes place in latrines close to burrows or along a group territory. The anal glands are used in scent marking home ranges and allomarking between colony members. The dominant pair and juvenile females concentrate their markings mainly around the burrow. Objects may also be marked by means of the cheek gland, often preceded by wiping the entire side of the body on the ground or side-swiping. All members of the group help mark, although most marking is done by younger, subordinate individuals. Five vocalizations have been recognized: a high-pitched scream (uttered during fighting); a low growl (when an individual was disturbed at a food source); an even lower growl (when approached in a live trap); a short barking sound (alarm call); and a soft purring uttered during copulation.

Breeding. There is no reproductive suppression in a colony so that more than one female can breed simultaneously. Mating starts in earlyJuly. When females are in estrus, males purr, “caw”, and scream, while following the females around and attempting to mount. Estrus females will allow copulation over a two-day period, after which males are vocally rebuffed with bites to the head and neck. Two observed copulations lasted 37 and 45 minutes. During copulation, the male purrs, while the female bites or licks the male’s ears and neck. Gestation is 60-62 days. Birth season is probably from August to January (until March in Botswana). Litter size is one to five, most commonly two; some females may have two litters per year. The young are born in nesting chambers in the burrows. Adult “helpers” (some of the previous year’s offspring that remain in the natal group) provision young at their dens for the first four weeks, carrying back large prey items (rodents, bats, reptiles, and large arachnoids). The young first accompany adults on foraging expeditions at about eight weeks of age. Lactation lastssix to eight weeks, and young are nutritionally independent at 16-18 weeks of age.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern in The IUCN Red List. A carrier of rabies throughout South Africa, which has led to extermination campaigns (usually through the use of burrow gassing). Also persecuted in the past because it was believed to be a predator of newborn lambs. Its wide distribution, high densities (6-7 individuals per 100 ha have been recorded in suitable areas), catholic diet, and tolerance to human-induced changes to habitat, are all positive factors for the long-term conservation of this species.

Bibliography. Avenant & Nel (1992), Blaum, Rossmanith, Fleissner & Jeltsch (2007), Cavallini (1993), Cavallini & Nel (1995), Coetzee (1977), Earle (1981), Ewer (1973), Fredga (1972), Gregory & Hellman (1939), Hendey (1974), Hinton & Dunn (1967), Lynch (1980), Nowak (1999), Pocock (1916b), Rasa et al. (1992), Rosevear (1974), Skinner & Chimimba (2005), Taylor (1993), Taylor & Meester (1993), Taylor, Campbell, van Dyke et al. (1990), Taylor, Campbell, Meester & Van Dyck (1991), Wenhold & Rasa (1994).

Figures

On following pages: 15. Somalian Slender Mongoose (Galerella ochracea); 16. Cape Gray Mongoose (Galerella pulverulenta); 17. Common Slender Mongoose (Galerella sanguinea); 18. White-tailed Mongoose (/chneumia albicauda); 19. Selous's Mongoose (Paracynictis selous)); 20. Bushy-tailed Mongoose (Bdeogale crassicauda); 21. Jackson's Mongoose (Bdeogale jackson); 22. Black-footed Mongoose (Bdeogale nigripes); 23. Meller’s Mongoose (Rhynchogale melleri).

Subspecies and Distribution. C. p. penicillata Cuvier, 1829 — South Africa , and Lesotho . C. p. bradfieldi Roberts, 1924 — S Angola , N Botswana , Namibia , and W Zimbabwe . C. p. coombsii Roberts, 1929 — S Botswana and Northern Transvaal.