17 genera, see text

The mongoose is any member of the Herpestidae family of small, cat-like carnivores. They are found in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and southern Europe in more than thirty species, ranging between one and four feet in length. Mongooses feed on insects, crabs, worms, lizards, and other small creatures (as well as eggs and sometimes fruits), but they are best known for their ability to fight and kill venomous snakes such as the cobra (ophiophagy). They are able to do this because of their speed, agility, and resistance to the venom of most snakes (the viper being a notable exception). It is said that some mongooses will actually eat the venom glands of snakes.

Some species of mongoose can be easily domesticated. They are fairly intelligent and can be taught simple tricks, so they are often kept as pets to protect the home from vermin. However, they can be more destructive than desired; when imported into the West Indies for the purpose of killing rats, they destroyed most of the small, ground-based fauna. Because of this, it is illegal to import mongooses into the United States. Mongooses are widespread in Hawaii, and have had a significant impact on native species.

The most famous popular artistic representation of the animal is in the Jungle Book story "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" by Rudyard Kipling, which depicts the adventures of a young mongoose defending his human family from murderous cobras.

Since the word "goose" is linguistically unrelated to the word "mongoose," the plural of mongoose is not "mongeese" but rather "mongooses."

Classification

• FAMILY HERPESTIDAE
  • Subfamily Herpestinae
    • Genus Atilax
      • Marsh Mongoose , Atilax paludinosus
    • Genus Bdeogale
      • Bushy-tailed Mongoose , Bdeogale crassicauda
      • Jackson's Mongoose , Bdeogale jacksoni
      • Black-footed Mongoose , Bdeogale nigripes
    • Genus Crossarchus
      • Alexander's Cusimanse , Crossarchus alexandri
      • Ansorge's Cusimanse , Crossarchus ansorgei
      • Long-nosed Cusimanse , Crossarchus obscurus
    • Genus Cynictis
      • Yellow Mongoose , Cynictis penicillata
    • Genus Dologale
      • Pousargues's Mongoose , Dologale dybowskii
    • Genus Helogale
      • Desert Dwarf Mongoose , Helogale hirtula
      • Desert Mongoose , Helogale parvula
    • Genus Herpestes
      • Short-tiled Mongoose , Herpestes brachyurus
      • Indian Gray Mongoose , Herpestes edwardsii
      • Egyptian Mongoose , Herpestes ichneumon
      • Indian or Javan Mongoose, Herpestes javanicus
      • Long-nosed Mongoose , Herpestes naso
      • Bengal Mongoose , Herpestes palustris
      • Collared Mongoose , Herpestes semitorquatus
      • Ruddy Mongoose , Herpestes smithii
      • Crab-eating Mongoose , Herpestes urva
      • Striped-necked Mongoose , Herpestes vitticollis
    • Genus Ichneumia
      • White-tailed Mongoose , Ichneumia albicauda
    • Genus Liberiictus
      • Liberian Mongoose , Liberiictis kuhni
    • Genus Mungos
      • Gambian Mongoose , Mungos gambianus
      • Banded Mongoose , Mungos mungo
    • Genus Paracynictis
      • Selous's Mongoose , Paracynictis selousi
    • Genus Rhynchogale
      • Meller's Mongoose , Rhynchogale melleri
    • Genus Suricata
      • Meerkat, Suricata suricatta
  • Subfamily Galidiinae
    • Genus Galidia
      • Ring-tailed Mongoose , Galidia elegans
    • Genus Galidictis
      • Broad-striped Mongoose , Galidictis fasciata
      • Giant-striped Mongoose , Galidictis grandidieri
    • Genus Mungotictis
      • Narrow-striped Mongoose , Mungotictis decemlineata
    • Genus Salanoia
      • Brown-tailed Mongoose , Salanoia concolor