Main Characteristics

White-Tailed Mongoose have a body length between 47 and 71 cms (18.5 - 28 inches), a tail length between 35 and 47 cms (13.8 - 18.5 inches), and they weigh between 1.8 and 5.2 kgs (4 - 11.5 lbs).

Habitat

White-Tailed Mongoose are found in the dry areas of sub-Saharan Africa and the southern portion of the Arabian Peninsula.

Diet

White-Tailed Mongoose mainly feed on insects but they also consume rodents, lizards, snakes, small birds, eggs, fruit and berries.

Breeding

White-Tailed Mongoose usually breed once a year during the wet season. Females give birth to 1 - 3 young and they reach independence at 9 months old.

Predators

The main predators of White-Tailed Mongoose are humans. Youngsters are also preyed upon by birds of prey and large snakes.

Subspecies

Subspecies of the White-Tailed Mongoose are:

Ichneumia albicauda albicauda
Ichneumia albicauda dialeucos
Ichneumia albicauda grandis
Ichneumia albicauda haagneri
Ichneumia albicauda ibeanus
Ichneumia albicauda loandae
Ichneumia albicauda loempo

Interesting Facts

White-Tailed Mongoose are the largest species of mongoose.

The genus name, Ichneumia, is derived from the Greek ichneumon, which means 'tracker'. The species name, albicauda, is derived from the Latin words albus, meaning 'white', and cauda, which means 'tail'.

Similar Animals

Meerkat
Banded Mongoose
Gambian Mongoose
Liberian Mongoose
Meller's Mongoose
Selous' Mongoose
Slender Mongoose
Yellow Mongoose