Page 89 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

FIELD GUIDE  87

Predator and Prey
Small carnivores are often undiscerning feeders, snaffling up
anything from insects to small rodents and birds, as well as
fruit and carrion. The honey-badger is famed for its symbiotic
relationship with the greater honeyguide, a bird which leads
it to beehives and feeds on the scraps as the hive is torn
apart. The Herpestidae mongooses are known to prey on
snakes, but this behaviour is more common in Asia than in
Africa, where they prey on small animals that are less well-
equipped to bite back. Banded mongoose feasting on an egg

Banded Mongoose Dwarf Mongoose Slender Mongoose
Species: Mungos mungo Species: Helogale parvula Species: Herpestes sanguineus
LC LC LC
Among the most common and The diminutive and highly A widespread species, the
sociable of several mongoose social dwarf mongoose has slender mongoose divides its
species in South Africa, the a shoulder height of 7 cm time between foraging terres-
banded mongoose is a slender, (2¾ inches). It is a light brown trially and arboreally. Though
cat-sized carnivore whose dark predator often seen in the quite variable in shade, it is
brown coat bears a dozen vicinity of the termite mounds almost always uniform grey
or so faint black stripes along and hollowed dead branches or brown in colour with an
the back. Diurnally active, that it uses as a home. Family elon gated body and tail –
it is typically seen in family members can sometimes be the latter with a prominent
bands of 10 to 20 members. seen interacting near the den. black tip.

White-Tailed Yellow Mongoose Meerkat
Mongoose Species: Cynictis pencillata Species: Suricata suricata
Species: Ichneumia albicauda LC LC
LC
Endemic to the dry western A highly distinctive diurnal
About the size of a badger, region of southern Africa, this mongoose, the meerkat lives
this is the largest African distinctive mongoose with a underground in closely knit
mongoose. One of the most bushy orange-yellow coat has gangs of 20 or so individuals.
strictly nocturnal and solitary a habit of standing alertly on It has monkey-like fingers with
species, it is often observed its hind legs. It favours sandy long claws, with which it digs,
by spotlight on night drives, environments, where it lives in grooms and forages. Alert,
when the combination of size sprawling burrows with dozens intelligent and playful, it
and a bushy white tail render of entrance holes. It is common often stands on its hind legs,
it unmistakable. in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. particularly when disturbed.
Key to Field Guide icons see p72

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