Helogale parvula
dwarf mongoose

Ethiopia to Angola and eastern South Africa.

These animals inhabit savanah, woodlands, brush country and mountain scrub. They range from sea level up to 1,800m.

Head and body length is 180 to 260mm and tail length is 120 to 200mm. Fur color varies, but is generally speckled brown to greyish. The tail and lower legs are generally darker, with the ventral surfaces being slightly paler.

Births occur mainly during the rainy season from November to May, and the dominant female often has three litters a year. Gestation lasts 49-56 days and average litter size is four. Young nurse for 45 days, and they are also brought food before being fully weaned. Juveniles begin to forage with the group at around six months of age. Full sexual maturity isn't reached until about three years old.

Dwarf mongooses have an interesting social system where the group is composed of an older, dominant female and her matriline. The second ranking animal is the mate of the dominant female. The dominant pair are monogamous and the only breeders in the group. The next dominant is the youngest offspring. Within any age class, females are dominant over males. Sub-adults clean, carry and feed juveniles and take turns "baby-sitting." Occasionally females other than the dominant will nurse the young. Despite this restricted breeding potential, maturing young do not appear to leave the group, and only when the female dies does the group split. Groups have a home range of around 2 ha. that sometimes moves due to prey availability.

The diet is mostly insects with small vertebrates, eggs, and fruit also being eaten occasionally. Most of the day is spent looking for food among brush, leaves, and rocks.

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