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with permanent water. They eat a wide variety of invertebrates, as
well as many small mammals up to the size of hares, and occasionally
wild fruits and berries. Within their Arabian range, they enter date
plantations and eat fallen fruits. They are nocturnal with some
daytime activity, especially during the early morning and late
afternoon. Usually solitary animals are encountered. Births apparently
peak in the summer months – information is sparse within this region.
The usual litter consists of 1–4 cubs.
Distribution and Status The White-tailed Mongoose occurs in and
around the Aïr massif, northern Niger and possibly in the Ahaggar
region of adjacent southern Algeria. It is found in association with
wadis in the Red Sea Hills of south-eastern Egypt and Sudan. It is also
present along the coastal plain and wadis cutting into the adjacent
mountain ranges of Saudi Arabia, south from Jiddah, Yemen, Oman
and the eastern UAE. In Oman it is known from the Batinah coast
in the north and an apparently isolated population in Dhofar in the
south. It is, however, likely that these populations are linked, because
this mongoose utilizes the coastal zone, including intertidal areas, and
there are no known barriers to its range.
Conservation Areas None known.
Similar Species Another large mongoose reported to occur in Yemen
is the Bushy-tailed Mongoose (Bdeogale crassicauda). In 1988 an
individual apparently of this species was found near the capital of
Yemen, San’a. It appears black at a distance, but at close quarters is
more grizzled, although the legs and long-haired, bushy tail are very
dark to black. It is known in Africa from only as far north as south-
eastern Kenya, favouring open woodland with rocky outcrops.
SMALL INDIAN MONGOOSE Herpestes auropunctatus
Identification This, the smallest mongoose in the area, has a limited
range. It is identified by its slender build, longish tail and short legs,
and fairly coarse, yellowish-grey to olive-grey grizzled coat. The
underparts are paler than the upperparts, often pale creamy-buff. The
ears are small and are largely covered by hair. There is a rusty-brown
ring around the eyes. This is sometimes considered to be a subspecies
of the Javan Mongoose (H. javanicus).
Size Total length 45–65 cm.
Weight 500–1,000 g.
Habitat and Behaviour In the region the Small Indian Mongoose
occupies well-watered and agricultural areas, never venturing into
adjacent desert land. It commonly associates with humans, their land
and their structures. It is diurnally active and will readily stand on its
hind legs to scan an area. It has a varied diet, taking a wide range of
invertebrate prey, snakes, lizards and smaller rodents, and will also
scavenge at rubbish dumps. The mongoose is generally encouraged
around homesteads because it hunts pest rodents and snakes, but