THE WHITE-TAILED MONGOOSE
HABITAT

Home	Introduction	Habitat	Predator/Prey Interactions	Social Organization	Summary	References

 

 

Images Courtesy of www.habari.co.tz and Rebecca Postanowicz

 

 

HABITAT

The white-tailed mongoose can be found in most areas of Sub-Saharan Africa. They have also been observed in the southern region of the Arabian Peninsula (Estes 1991). Although they avoid moist areas like the Congo River basin, they inhabit areas such as deserts and savanna woodlands. However, they are never too far from a permanent water source (The Breeding Centre for Arabian Wildlife 2007). They are not present in large numbers in Somalia and mountains above 2500 meters (Taylor 1972). The home range of the white-tailed mongoose is approximately eight square kilometers. The white-tailed mongoose prefers areas with thick brush and areas near forest edges. There is extensive overlap of the white-tailed mongoose habitat with genets (Genetta tigrina), the aardwolf, bat-eared fox, jackals (Canis mesomelas), four-toed mongooses (Bdeogale crassicauda), and the black-tipped mongoose (Herpestes sanguineus) . Essential parts of their habitat are denning sites. Dens allow the mongoose to rest during the day and rear young as well. Most of the dens are found in inactive termite mounds. There has been some debate as to whether den sites are limiting factors for these small carnivores because they must compete with other species for these same areas (Taylor 1972). Although this species is not considered to be endangered, there are some areas of its habitat that have been deemed unsuitable. These areas of unsuitability include Somalia and eastern Ethiopia (Cuvier, 1829).

This website was completed in partial fulfillment of the requirements for Biology 323,
Animal Behavior, at Davidson College in the Spring Semester 2007.

Department of Biology, Davidson College, Davidson, NC 28035
Please send all comments, suggestions, and questions to vecase@davidson.edu