Mammals · Carnivora · Herpestidae

Egyptian Mongoose

Herpestes ichneumon

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

It is the largest mongoose in Africa and one of the few Eurasian carnivores able to kill venomous snakes with relative safety, thanks to its agility and a partial resistance to venom.

Weight

1.7 kg – 4 kg

Size

48 cm – 60 cm

Lifespan

12 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

SavannaTemperate forestCarnivore Diurnal Solitary Savanna Temperate forest Mammal

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Fun facts

comportamientoIt is one of the few mammals that will take young crocodiles and raid their nests for eggs with any regularity, despite the risk of approaching a guarded nest.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Mediterranean scrub, woodland near watercourses and savannah of the Iberian Peninsula, North Africa and the Near East
Birth weight: Naked and blind at birth; no precise weight found
Size at birth: Naked, blind and wholly helpless at birth, able to follow its mother at 6-8 days
Sexual maturity: 2 years
Gestation / incubation: ~11 weeks (74-77 days)
Litter / clutch size: 1 to 4 young per litter (most commonly 2-3)
Lifespan in captivity: A documented record of up to 20 years (a figure some specialist sources doubt)

Sources consulted: AnAge; Tranquil Safari; ResearchGate; Animalia.bio; Blue Planet Biomes; Website of Everything; Animal Diversity Web; iNature; Animals Fandom