Water Mongoose

Description:

The Marsh Mongoose, or Water Mongoose, is a medium-sized mammal weighing 5.5–9 lb. (2.5–4.1 kg), with a body measuring 18–24" (46–62 cm) and a tail measuring 12–21" (32–53 cm). It is a member of the mongoose family and the only member of its genus. Atilax paludinosus is found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, with a preference for permanent freshwater habitats bordered by dense vegetation, such as marshes, reed beds, and estuary (though sightings have been recorded in hilly areas with little or no aquatic wildlife presence). The Marsh Mongoose is an important member of the community of animals inhabiting the papyrus swamps, where deoxygenated water limits aquatic life to various air-breathing fish, frogs, insect larvae, snails, and mammals.