Slender Mongoose

Description:

As the name suggests, the slender mongoose has a lithe body of 27.5-40 cm (11-16 in) and a long tail of 23-33 cm (9-13 in). Males weigh 640-715 g (22-25 oz), while the smaller females weigh 460-575 g (16-20 oz). The colour of their fur varies widely between subspecies, from a dark reddish brown to an orange red, grey, or even yellow, but these mongooses can be distinguished from other mongooses due to the prominent black or red tip on their tails. Reportedly, they also have silkier fur than the other African members of their family.

Habitat:

The slender mongoose and up to fifty subspecies are found throughout sub-Saharan Africa. They are adaptable and can live nearly anywhere in this wide range, but are most common in the savannah and semiarid plains. They are much rarer in densely-forested areas and deserts.