Herpestidae Author Don E. Wilson Author Russell A. Mittermeier text 2009 2009-01-31 Lynx Edicions Barcelona Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 1 Carnivores 262 328 book chapter 3637 10.5281/zenodo.5676639 23dac009-8dc4-4021-a812-5f9db538c89c 978-84-96553-49-1 5676639 14 . Angolan Slender Mongoose Galerella flavescens French: Mangouste flavescente / German: Kaokoveld-Schlankichneumon / Spanish: Mangosta angolena Other common names: Kaokoveld Slender Mongoose , Black Mongoose , Larger Red Mongoose Taxonomy. Herpestes gracilis var. flavescens Bocage, 1889 . “Benguella”, Namibia . Formerly classified as a subspecies of the Common Slender Mongoose ( G . sanguinea ) or of the Cape Gray Mongoose (G. pulwverulenta ). Three subspecies of uncertain status ( annulata , nigrata , and shortridger ) have been described. Pending revision, all should are considered here as synonyms of G. flavescens . Distribution. SW Angola and NW Namibia . Descriptive notes. Head-body 33.5-35. 5 cm (males), 31-33 cm (females), tail 32.5-36. 2 cm (males), 34-34. 5 cm (females), hindfoot 6.9-7. 2 cm (males), 6.4-6. 6 cm females, ear 2:7.2-8 cm (males), 2.4-2. 5 cm (females); weight similar to that of the Common Slender Mongoose. A small mongoose, with a long slender body and long tail (equal to body length). Variable body and tail color, generally either reddish (from chestnut to yellow; shortridgei ) or dark brown to black ( nigrata ). Skull length 63-68 mm (males larger than females). Skull larger than the Common Slender Mongoose and smaller than the Cape Gray Mongoose. On following pages: 15. Somalian Slender Mongoose ( Galerella ochracea ); 16. Cape Gray Mongoose ( Galerella pulverulenta ); 17. Common Slender Mongoose ( Galerella sanguinea ); 18. White-tailed Mongoose (/chneumia albicauda ); 19. Selous's Mongoose ( Paracynictis selous )); 20. Bushy-tailed Mongoose ( Bdeogale crassicauda ); 21. Jackson's Mongoose ( Bdeogale jackson ); 22. Black-footed Mongoose ( Bdeogale nigripes ); 23. Meller’s Mongoose ( Rhynchogale melleri). Habitat. Appears to select arid areas, with limited bushy cover, but avoids true deserts (such as the Namib and surrounding areas). The black form ( nigrata ) seems to strongly select scattered granite boulders, avoiding areas in between. Food and Feeding. Preys on a variety of small rodents, birds, reptiles, and insects. Also feeds on sarcophagous arthropods in and around carrion, and fleshy seeds when available. Activity patterns. Appears to be diurnal. Movements, Home range and Social organization. Normally seen singly, sometimes in groups of two or three. Up to five observed within 30 m of a kudu carcass. Intraspecific fights can occur close to an abundant resource such as carrion. In the Erongo Mountains ( Namibia ), the home range of a radio-tracked male was 145 ha. Breeding. Nothing known. Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern in The IUCN Red List . No significant threats are known and occurs in a number of protected areas. Bibliography. Crawford-Cabral (1996), Rathbun (2004), Rathbun et al. (2005), Taylor (In press b), Taylor & Goldman (1993).