Wild mongooses

Mongooses are small mammals. They are fearless predators, have long bodies and short legs. Mongooses are essentially terrestrial. Nearly all species are very poor tree-climbers and are rarely seen on anything but the lowest branches.

However, Herpestes sanguineus is exceptional and its climbing ability is said to resemble that of a squirrel.

They live in forests, savannahs and dry grasslands.  Many more mongoose species live in grassland habitats. These habitats have two distinct seasons and constantly high temperatures.

All species swim well when force to do so and a few species are semi-aquatic or aquatic such as Atilax in Africa, Herpetes urva and H. vitticollis in India and H. brachyurus in the East Indies.

Members of the mongoose family are other social or solitary mammals. Many of the mongoose species that live outside Africa are solitary animals.
Wild mongooses