Small carnivores of Africa, Asia and southern Europe, 34 species in two subfamilies. A large introduced population lives in Hawaii.
Quick answers
What is it?Mammal
Carnivore?Yes
Dangerous?No
Domesticated?No
Awake when?Daytime
Hibernates?No
Kept as a pet?No
Do people eat it?No
At a glance
Found inAfrica, Asia, Europe
HabitatGrassland, Scrub, Forest
ColoursBrown, Grey
SizeSmall
Legs4
Covered inFur
Lives ingroups
Lives for6–10 years
In the wild
- Where it lives
- Africa, Asia and southern Europe; introduced to Hawaii.
- What it eats
- Mainly insects, rodents, reptiles and birds.
Did you know
Its nerve receptors are mutated so that cobra venom can't bind to them.
Its name comes from Indian languages, altered to end in “-goose” by folk etymology.
Often confused with
- Meerkat
The meerkat is a small mongoose from southern Africa.
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