# List of herpestids

Herpestidae is a family of mammals in the order Carnivora, composed of the mongooses and the meerkat. A member of this family is called a mongoose or a herpestid. They are widespread primarily throughout Africa and south Asia, and are found primarily in forests, savannas, shrublands, and grasslands, though some species can be found in wetlands or deserts. Most mongooses are 30–60 cm (12–24 in) long, plus a 20–40 cm (8–16 in) tail, though the Ethiopian dwarf mongoose can be as small as 18 cm (7 in) plus a 12 cm (5 in) tail, and the white-tailed mongoose can be up to 104 cm (41 in) plus a 47 cm (14 in) tail. Most species do not have population estimates, though one, the Liberian mongoose, is classified as vulnerable with a population size of around 5,000. No herpestid species have been domesticated.
The 34 species of Herpestidae are split into 14 genera within 2 subfamilies: Herpestinae, comprising 23 extant species that are native to southern Europe, Africa and Asia, and Mungotinae, comprising 11 extant species native to Africa. Extinct species have also been placed into both subfamilies, though some older extinct species have not been categorized into a subfamily. Around ten extinct Herpestidae species have been discovered, though due to ongoing research and discoveries the exact number and categorization is not fixed. Herpestidae is believed to have diverged from the existing Feliformia suborder around 21.8 million years ago in the Early Miocene.

## Conventions

Conservation status codes listed follow the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Range maps are provided wherever possible; if a range map is not available, a description of the herpestid's range is provided. Ranges are based on the IUCN Red List for that species unless otherwise noted.

## Classification

The family Herpestidae consists of 34 extant species belonging to 15 genera in 2 subfamilies and divided into dozens of extant subspecies. This does not include hybrid species or extinct prehistoric species.
* Subfamily Herpestinae
** Genus Atilax: one species
** Genus Bdeogale: three species
** Genus Cynictis: one species
** Genus Herpestes: five species
** Genus Ichneumia: one species
** Genus Paracynictis: one species
** Genus Rhynchogale: one species
** Genus Urva: nine species
** Genus Xenogale: one species
* Subfamily Mungotinae
** Genus Crossarchus: four species
** Genus Dologale: one species
** Genus Helogale: two species
** Genus Liberiictis: one species
** Genus Mungos: two species
** Genus Suricata: one species
Herpestidae
Herpestinae
Bdeogale
Rhynchogale
Cynictis
Paracynictis
Ichneumia
Herpestes
Atilax
Urva
Mungotinae
Dologale
Helogale
Crossarchus
Liberiictis
Mungos
Suricata :

## Herpestids

The following classification is based on the taxonomy described by Mammal Species of the World (2005), with augmentation by proposals accepted by the American Society of Mammalogists since using molecular phylogenetic analysis.

### Subfamily Herpestinae

Genus Atilax – F. Cuvier, 1826 – one species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Marsh mongoose | A. paludinosus (G. Cuvier, 1829) Eleven subspecies A. p. macrodon A. p. mitis A. p. mordax A. p. nigerianus A. p. paludinosus A. p. pluto A. p. robustus A. p. rubellus A. p. rubescens A. p. spadiceus A. p. transvaalensis | Sub-Saharan Africa | Size: 46–64 cm (18–25 in) long, plus 31–41 cm (12–16 in) tail Habitat: Forest, grassland, inland wetlands, neritic marine, and coastal marine Diet: Crustaceans as well as other aquatic prey and rodents | LC  Unknown |
Genus Bdeogale – Peters, 1850 – three species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Black-footed mongoose | B. nigripes Pucheran, 1855 | Central Africa | Size: 45–65 cm (18–26 in) long, plus 30–40 cm (12–16 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Mammals, as well as reptiles, birds, insects, and centipedes | LC  Unknown |
| Bushy-tailed mongoose | B. crassicauda Peters, 1852 Five subspecies B. c. crassicauda B. c. nigrescens B. c. omnivora B. c. puisa B. c. tenuis | Southeast Africa | Size: 36–52 cm (14–20 in) long, plus 22–29 cm (9–11 in) tail Habitat: Forest, savanna, and shrubland Diet: Omnivorous | LC  Unknown |
| Jackson's mongoose | B. jacksoni (Thomas, 1894) | East-central Africa | Size: 50–58 cm (20–23 in) long, plus 28–33 cm (11–13 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Rodents and insects | NT  Unknown |
Genus Cynictis – Ogilby, 1833 – one species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Yellow mongoose | C. penicillata (Cuvier, 1829) Twelve subspecies C. p. bechuanae C. p. brachyura C. p. bradfieldi C. p. cinderella C. p. coombsi C. p. intensa C. p. kalaharica C. p. karasensis C. p. lepturus C. p. ogilbyii C. p. pallidior C. p. penicillata | Southern Africa | Size: 26–46 cm (10–18 in) long, plus 16–30 cm (6–12 in) tail Habitat: Savanna, shrubland, and grassland Diet: Insects, as well as rodents, birds, other vertebrates, and arachnids | LC  Unknown |
Genus Herpestes – Illiger, 1811 – five species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Angolan slender mongoose | H. flavescens Bocage, 1889 Two subspecies H. f. flavescens H. f. nigratus (black mongoose) | Southwestern Africa | Size: 31–36 cm (12–14 in) long, plus 31–37 cm (12–15 in) tail Habitat: Shrubland and rocky areas Diet: Invertebrates, small mammals, birds, lizards, and snakes | LC  Unknown |
| Egyptian mongoose | H. ichneumon (Linnaeus, 1758) Eleven subspecies H. i. angolensis H. i. cafra H. i. centralis H. i. funestus H. i. ichneumon H. i. mababiensis H. i. numidicus H. i. parvidens H. i. sabiensis H. i. sangronizi H. i. widdringtonii | Sub-Saharan Africa, Nile river, and Mediterranean (native, green); Iberian peninsula (introduced, red) | Size: 48–60 cm (19–24 in) long, plus 33–55 cm (13–22 in) tail Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, grassland, and inland wetlands Diet: Omnivorous | LC  Unknown |
| Cape gray mongoose | H. pulverulentus Wagner, 1839 Three subspecies H. p. basuticus H. p. pulverulentus H. p. ruddi | Southern Africa | Size: 29–43 cm (11–17 in) long, plus 20–34 cm (8–13 in) tail Habitat: Shrubland and inland wetlands Diet: Small mammals and insects | LC  Unknown |
| Common slender mongoose | H. sanguineus Rüppell, 1836 26 subspecies H. s. canus H. s. cauui H. s. dasilvai H. s. dentifer H. s. fulvidior H. s. galbus H. s. gracilis H. s. grantii H. s. ibeae H. s. ignitus H. s. lancasteri H. s. melanura H. s. mossambica H. s. mustela H. s. mutgigella H. s. orestes H. s. parvipes H. s. perfulvidus H. s. phoenicurus H. s. proteus H. s. rendilis H. s. saharae H. s. sanguinea H. s. swalius (Namaqua slender mongoose) H. s. swinnyi H. s. ugandae | Sub-Saharan Africa | Size: 27–35 cm (11–14 in) long, plus 19–33 cm (7–13 in) tail Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, and grassland Diet: Small vertebrates and invertebrates | LC  Unknown |
| Somalian slender mongoose | H. ochraceus Gray, 1848 Four subspecies H. o. bocagei H. o. fulvidior H. o. ochracea H. o. perfulvidus | Eastern Africa | Size: 25–29 cm (10–11 in) long, plus 22–28 cm (9–11 in) tail Habitat: Shrubland and desert Diet: Believed to be invertebrates and small vertebrates | LC  Unknown |
Genus Ichneumia – Geoffroy, 1837 – one species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| White-tailed mongoose | I. albicauda (Cuvier, 1829) Seven subspecies I. a. albicauda I. a. dialeucos I. a. grandis I. a. haagneri I. a. ibeanus I. a. loandae I. a. loempo | Sub-Saharan Africa, southern Arabic peninsula | Size: 51–104 cm (20–41 in) long, plus 34–47 cm (13–19 in) tail Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, grassland, and inland wetlands Diet: Insects | LC  Unknown |
Genus Paracynictis – Pocock, 1916 – one species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Selous's mongoose | P. selousi (Winton, 1896) Four subspecies P. s. bechuanae P. s. ngamiensis P. s. selousi P. s. sengaani | Southern Africa | Size: 63–90 cm (25–35 in) long, plus 28–43 cm (11–17 in) tail Habitat: Savanna and grassland Diet: Invertebrates, as well as small rodents, amphibians, reptiles, and birds | LC  Unknown |
Genus Rhynchogale – Thomas, 1894 – one species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Meller's mongoose | R. melleri (Gray, 1865) Two subspecies R. m. langi R. m. melleri | Southeastern Africa | Size: 36–57 cm (14–22 in) long, plus 30–42 cm (12–17 in) tail Habitat: Forest, savanna, and shrubland Diet: Termites, as well as other invertebrates | LC  Unknown |
Genus Urva – Hodgson, 1836 – nine species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Collared mongoose | U. semitorquata (Gray, 1846) Two subspecies U. s. semitorquata U. s. uniforma | Borneo in Southeast Asia | Size: 40–46 cm (16–18 in) long, plus 25–31 cm (10–12 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Unknown | NT  Unknown |
| Crab-eating mongoose | U. urva (Hodgson, 1836) Four subspecies U. u. annamensis U. u. formosana U. u. sinensis U. u. urva | Eastern and Southeast Asia | Size: 45–50 cm (18–20 in) long, plus 25–30 cm (10–12 in) tail Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and grassland Diet: Crustaceans, mammals, reptiles, insects, and amphibians | LC  Unknown |
| Indian brown mongoose | U. fusca (Waterhouse, 1838) Five subspecies U. f. flavidens U. f. fusca U. f. maccarthiae U. f. rubidior U. f. siccata | South India, Sri Lanka | Size: 33–48 cm (13–19 in) long, plus 20–33 cm (8–13 in) tail Habitat: Forest and grassland Diet: Believed to be a variety of small vertebrates and invertebrates | LC  Unknown |
| Indian grey mongoose | U. edwardsii (Geoffroy, 1818) Five subspecies U. e. edwardsii U. e. ferruginea U. e. lanka U. e. montana U. e. nyula | India, west Asia | Size: 36–45 cm (14–18 in) long, plus 32–45 cm (13–18 in) tail Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and grassland Diet: Small mammals, birds, reptiles, eggs, and invertebrates | LC  Unknown |
| Javan mongoose | U. javanica (Geoffroy, 1818) Nine subspecies U. j. exilis H. j. javanica U. j. orientalis U. j. peninsulae U. j. perakensis U. j. rafflesii U. j. rubrifrons U. j. siamensis U. j. tjerapai | Southeast Asia | Size: 25–37 cm (10–15 in) long, plus 24–27 cm (9–11 in) tail Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, grassland, and inland wetlands Diet: Invertebrates, as well as rodents, birds, snakes, lizards, frogs, fish, and fruit | LC  Unknown |
| Small Indian mongoose | U. auropunctata (Hodgson, 1836) Three subspecies U. j. auropunctata U. j. pallipes U. j. palustris (Bengal mongoose) | West, south, and southeast Asia | Size: 25–37 cm (10–15 in) long, plus 24–27 cm (9–11 in) tail Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, grassland, and inland wetlands Diet: Invertebrates, as well as rodents, birds, snakes, lizards, frogs, fish, and fruit | LC  Unknown |
| Ruddy mongoose | U. smithii (Gray, 1837) Three subspecies U. s. smithii U. s. thysanura U. s. zeylania | India and Sri Lanka | Size: 39–45 cm (15–18 in) long, plus 35–47 cm (14–19 in) tail Habitat: Forest and shrubland Diet: Rodents, birds, and reptiles | LC  Unknown |
| Short-tailed mongoose | U. brachyura (Gray, 1837) Six subspecies U. b. brachyura U. b. hosei (Hose's mongoose) U. b. javanensis U. b. palawana U. b. parva U. b. sumatria | Southeast Asia | Size: 38–45 cm (15–18 in) long, plus 20–25 cm (8–10 in) tail Habitat: Forest and shrubland Diet: Invertebrates and small vertebrates | NT  Unknown |
| Stripe-necked mongoose | U. vitticolla (Bennett, 1835) Two subspecies U. v. inornata U. v. vitticolla | Southern India and Sri Lanka | Size: 25–41 cm (10–16 in) long, plus 22–36 cm (9–14 in) tail Habitat: Forest and shrubland Diet: Small mammals, birds, birds' eggs, reptiles, fish, insects, and roots | LC  Unknown |
Genus Xenogale – Allen, 1919 – one species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Long-nosed mongoose | X. naso (Winton, 1901) | Central Africa | Size: 40–61 cm (16–24 in) long, plus 32–43 cm (13–17 in) tail Habitat: Forest and inland wetlands Diet: Omnivorous | LC  Unknown |

### Subfamily Mungotinae

Genus Crossarchus – F. Cuvier, 1825 – four species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Alexander's kusimanse | C. alexandri Thomas, 1907 | Central Africa | Size: 37–44 cm (15–17 in) long, plus 24–32 cm (9–13 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Invertebrates and fruit, as well as frogs, snakes, and carrion | LC  Unknown |
| Angolan kusimanse | C. ansorgei Thomas, 1910 Two subspecies C. a. ansorgei C. a. nigricolor | Central Africa | Size: 32–35 cm (13–14 in) long, plus 20–22 cm (8–9 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Insects, small vertebrates, and eggs | LC  Unknown |
| Common kusimanse | C. obscurus F. Cuvier, 1825 | Western Africa | Size: 29–37 cm (11–15 in) long, plus 14–21 cm (6–8 in) tail Habitat: Forest and savanna Diet: Insects, as well as reptiles, small mammals, and fruit | LC  Unknown |
| Flat-headed kusimanse | C. platycephalus Goldman, 1984 | Western central Africa | Size: 21–47 cm (8–19 in) long, plus 15–21 cm (6–8 in) tail Habitat: Forest and inland wetlands Diet: Insects, as well as reptiles, small mammals, and fruit | LC  Unknown |
Genus Dologale – Thomas, 1926 – one species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Pousargues's mongoose | D. dybowskii (Pousargues, 1893) | Central Africa | Size: 24–30 cm (9–12 in) long, plus 16–22 cm (6–9 in) tail Habitat: Forest, savanna, and grassland Diet: Invertebrates | DD  Unknown |
Genus Helogale – Gray, 1862 – two species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Common dwarf mongoose | H. parvula (Sundevall, 1847) Seven subspecies H. p. ivori H. p. mimetra H. p. nero H. p. parvula H. p. ruficeps H. p. undulatus H. p. varia | Southern and eastern Africa | Size: 18–23 cm (7–9 in) long, plus 14–19 cm (6–7 in) tail Habitat: Savanna and grassland Diet: Arthropods, as well as small vertebrates | LC  Unknown |
| Ethiopian dwarf mongoose | H. hirtula Thomas, 1904 Five subspecies H. h. ahlselli H. h. annulata H. h. hirtula H. h. lutescens H. h. powelli | Eastern Africa | Size: 18–26 cm (7–10 in) long, plus 12–20 cm (5–8 in) tail Habitat: Savanna, shrubland, and grassland Diet: Invertebrates | LC  Unknown |
Genus Liberiictis – Hayman, 1958 – one species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Liberian mongoose | L. kuhni Hayman, 1958 | Western Africa | Size: 42–55 cm (17–22 in) long, plus 18–21 cm (7–8 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Earthworms, as well as small vertebrates, insect larvae, and fruit | VU  5,200 |
Genus Mungos – Geoffroy, 1795 – two species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Banded mongoose | M. mungo (Gmelin, 1788) Sixteen subspecies M. m. adailensis (Adail banded mongoose) M. m. bororensis (Boror banded mongoose) M. m. caurinus (North-west banded mongoose) M. m. colonus (East African banded mongoose) M. m. grisonax (Namibia banded mongoose) M. m. mandjarum (Schwarz's banded mongoose) M. m. marcrurus M. m. mungo M. m. ngamiensis (Botswana banded mongoose) M. m. pallidipes M. m. rossi M. m. senescens M. m. somalicus M. m. talboti (Talbot's banded mongoose) M. m. zebra M. m. zebroides | Sub-Saharan Africa | Size: 30–40 cm (12–16 in) long, plus 19–31 cm (7–12 in) tail Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, and grassland Diet: Insects, as well as other invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians, bird eggs, young birds, small mammals, and fruit | LC  Unknown |
| Gambian mongoose | M. gambianus (Ogilby, 1835) | Western Africa | Size: 34–36 cm (13–14 in) long, plus 20–22 cm (8–9 in) tail Habitat: Forest and savanna Diet: Insects, as well as lizards, mice, and snakes | LC  Unknown |
Genus Suricata – Desmarest, 1804 – one species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Meerkat | S. suricatta (Schreber, 1776) Three subspecies S. s. iona S. s. marjoriae S. s. suricatta | Southern Africa | Size: 23–36 cm (9–14 in) long, plus 18–24 cm (7–9 in) tail Habitat: Savanna, shrubland, grassland, and desert Diet: Invertebrates | LC  Unknown |