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Carnivora
Id code: amd037Herpestidae
Herpestes ichneumon
(Linnaeus, 1758)
(Eng) Egyptian or grey mongoose
(Fre) Mangouste ichneumon
Taxonomic notes
The Egyptian mongoose shows high variation over its wide range (as many as 25 subspecies have been described) and a revision at the subspecies level is needed (Kingdon, 1997).
IUCN threat category
Not listed.
Available information
Although the Egyptian mongoose is widespread in Africa and common throughout its range of distribution, literature available is quite scarce. General information on the main aspects of the ecology of the species in East Africa are given by Kingdon (1971-77); for the southern part of the continent, Mills & Hes (1997) and Skinner & Smithers (1990) are the main source of information. As underlined by Rosevear (1974) and Happold (1987) very little is known on the species in West Africa. Some information on its ecology in a coastal area of Israel is given by Ben-Yaacov & Yom-Tov (1983); the authors also give a sound account of the species' behaviour in captivity. Information on the species' distribution, status, and general ecology is available for eastern former Zaire (Rahm & Christiaensen, 1966), Angola (Crawford-Cabral, 1989), South Africa (Lynch, 1989; Rautenbach & Nel, 1978; Rowe-Rowe, 1978, 1992), Egypt (Kasparek, 1993; Osborn & Helmy, 1980), Morocco (Anonymous, 1994; Aulagnier & Thévenot, 1986) and Somalia, Ethiopia, and Eritrea (Funaioli, 1971; Yalden et al., 1980, 1996). General information on the species' ecology and distribution are also found in Estes (1991), Kingdon (1997) and Stuart & Stuart (1997).
Known extent of occurrence
H. ichneumon ranges widely in Africa, occurring from Morocco and Egypt southwards to Cape Province, being excluded only from true desert and deep forests. (Wilson & Reeder, 1993). According to Dr. H. Van Rompaey, who revised (20 May ‘97) the distribution map acquired from Skinner & Smithers (1990), the whole of Nigeria has to be added, since C. B. Powell collected specimens in the Niger Delta (pers. comm.) (Fig. 3.3.16.a).
Categorical-discrete (CD) distribution model
The species favours riparian conditions within a wide range of vegetation types, including cultivated areas (Skinner & Smithers, 1990; Lynch, 1989; Osborn & Helmy, 1980).
Based on these environmental preferences, the following scores were assigned (Fig. 3.3.16.b) (3.3.16.a):
|
Score |
|
|
1 |
Grassland with wetland; savannas and forests occurring inside a 10-km buffer around permanent water. |
|
2 |
Croplands occurring inside a 10-km buffer around permanent water. |
|
3 |
Desert and all other vegetation types occurring outside a 10-km buffer around permanent water. |
|
suitable |
moderately suitable |
unsuitable |
Total |
||||
|
km2 |
% |
km2 |
% |
km2 |
% |
km2 |
% |
|
9 301 400 |
67 |
445 817 |
3 |
4 106 532 |
30 |
13 853 749 |
100 |
Tab 3.3.16.a: Cumulative size (km2) of areas pertaining to each environmental suitability class within the Extent of Occurrence.
|
Number Patches (NP) |
Mean Patch Size (MPS) km2 |
Patch Size SD (PSSD) km2 |
Largest Patch Index (LPI) % |
Mean Shape Index (MSI) |
Area-Weighted Mean Shape Index (AWMSI) |
|
|
suitable |
799 |
11 647 |
316 268 |
91.74 |
1.32 |
34.31 |
|
moderately suitable |
3 198 |
139 |
788 |
0.24 |
1.24 |
3.5 |
|
Total AO |
420 |
23 216 |
457 139 |
96.19 |
1.31 |
24.56 |
Tab 3.3.16.b: Area of Occupancy fragmentation indexes.
Probabilistic-continuous (PC) distribution model
The output of the probabilistic-continuous (PC) distribution model is shown in Fig. 3.3.16.c.
Validation
|
% of EO in sample areas |
Number of valid plots |
Index of Accordance (%) |
|
5.66 |
247 |
63.97 |
Tab 3.3.16.c: Categorical-discrete (CD) distribution model validation parameters.
Comments and conservation issues
According to the CD model, well supported by the accordance with field work (63.97%), the known EO includes a relatively high proportion of unsuitable areas (30%), mainly located around the Nile valley and some other arid areas in eastern Africa, where permanent water sources are absent. However, this result has to be interpreted with caution, due to the high ecological flexibility of the species and considering that its distribution in relation to distance from water has not been specifically investigated. Moreover, the CD model is not able to explain the absence of the species in the deep tropical rainforest. The fragmentation indexes show that largely suitable areas are available for the species. On the other hand, the PC model roughly matches the central Africa void areas, confirms the presence of large unsuitable areas in Egypt, and shows a fragmented pattern. About 10 % of the AO is included in protected areas, and the species is not endangered. However, the results obtained need to be further investigated.
|
SUITABILITY CLASS |
inside |
outside |
Total |
|
suitable |
6.23 |
60.91 |
67.14 |
|
moderately suitable |
0.28 |
2.94 |
3.22 |
|
unsuitable |
1.86 |
27.79 |
29.64 |
|
Total |
8.37 |
91.63 |
100 |
Tab 3.3.16.d: Percent of environmental suitability classes within EO (as obtained from the categorical-discrete distribution model) inside and outside the protected areas.
References
Anonymous (1994). Plan directeur des aires protégées: Les écosistemes marocaines et la situation de la flore et de la faune. Eaux & Forets: Tome 1, vol . 1.
Aulagnier S., Thévenot M. (1986). Note sur les mammifères des environs de l'Embouchure de l'Oued Massa. Bulletin de l'Institut Scientifique (Rabat): 10, 193-199.
Ben-Yaacov R., Yom-Tov Y. (1983). On the biology of the Egyptian mongoose; Herpestes ichneumon, in Israel. Z. Sõugetierk.: 48, 34-45.
Crawford-Cabral J. (1989). Distributional data and notes on Angolan carnivores (Mammalia: Carnivora). I - Small and median-sized species. Garcia de Orta, Série de Zoologica: Lisboa 14(2), 3-27.
Estes R.D. (1991). The Behavior Guide to African Mammals. Including Hoofed Mammals, Carnivores, Primates. The University of California Press.
Funaioli U. (1971). Guida breve dei mammiferi della Somalia. Istituto Agronomico per l'Oltremare. Biblioteca Agraria Tropicale.
Happold D.C.D. (1987). The Mammals of Nigeria. Oxford University Press., Oxford.
Kasparek M. (1993). The Egyptian Mongoose, Herpestes ichneumon, in Western Egypt. Zoology in the Middle East: 9, 31-32.
Kingdon J. (1971-77). East African Mammals. VOL I: primates, hyraces, pangolins, protoungulates, sirenians. VOL IIA: Insectivores and bats. VOL IIB: hares and rodents. VOL IIIA: carnivores. VOL IIIB: large mammals. VOL IIIC: bovids. VOL IIID: bovids. Academic Press, London and New York.
Kingdon J. (1997). The Kingdon field guide to African Mammals. Academic Press, London and New York: Natural World.
Lynch C.D. (1989). The mammals of the north-east Cape Province. Mem. van die Nasionale Mus., Bloemfontein: 25, 1-116.
Mills G., Hes L. (1997). The complete book of Southern African mammals. Struik Publishers.
Osborn D.J., Helmy I. (1980). The contemporary land mammals of Egypt (including Sinai). Fieldiana: Zoology: 1309, 1-579.
Rahm U., Christiaensen A. (1966). Les mammiferès de l'Ile Idjwi (Lac Kivu, Congo). Les mammifères de la foret equatoriale de l'est du Congo. Ann. Mus. Roy. Afr. Cent.: n° 149.
Rautenbach I.L., Nel J.A.J. (1978). Coexistence in Transvaal Carnivora. Bull Car Mus Nat His: 6, 138-145.
Rosevear D.R. (1974). The Carnivores of West Africa. Trustees of British Museum (Natural History), London.
Rowe-Rowe D.T. (1978). The small carnivores of Natal. Lammergeyer: 25, 1-48.
Rowe-Rowe D.T. (1992). The carnivores of Natal. Natal Parks, Game & Fish Preservation Board, Pietermaritzburg, Natal, R.S.A.
Schreiber A., Wirth R., Riffel M., Van Rompaey H. (Eds) (1989). Weasels, Civets, Mongoose and their Relatives. An Action Plan for the Conservation of Mustelids and Viverrids. IUCN/SSC Mustelid and Viverrid Specialist Group.
Skinner J.D., Smithers R.H.N. (1990). The mammals of the Southern African subregion. University of Pretoria, Pretoria.
Stuart C., Stuart T. (1997). Field guide to the larger mammals of Africa. Struik Publishers.
Wilson D.E., Reeder D.M. (Eds) (1993). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Second edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C.
Yalden D.W., Largen M.J., Kock D. (1980). Catalogue of the mammals of Ethiopia 4. Carnivora. Monitore Zoologico Italiano: suppl. XIII, 169-272.
Yalden D.W., Largen M.J., Kock D., Hillman J.C. (1996). Catalogue of the mammals of Ethiopia and Eritrea. 7. Revised checklist, zoogeography and conservation. Tropical Zoology: 9, 73-164.