Red List of South African Species

Alternatively, Explore species
| National Red List categories | Partners |
Least Concern (LC)
Assessors: Emmanuel Do Linh San Akhona Mbatyoti Guy Palmer Christopher Stuart Mathilde Stuart Nico Avenant Paolo Cavallini
Contributors: Claire Relton
Reviewers: Emmanuel Do Linh San Akhona Mbatyoti Guy Palmer Christopher Stuart Mathilde Stuart Nico Avenant Paolo Cavallini

Rationale (Changed due to Same category and criteria)

The Cape Grey Mongoose is listed as Least Concern because it is common and adaptable, with a catholic diet, there are no major threats, and it is present in a number of protected areas in its range.

Regional population effects: The range is continuous and dispersal between regions occurs as this species is not constrained by fences.

Distribution

This species is endemic to southern Africa, ranging throughout the Northern Cape, Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa, with a marginal intrusion into southern Namibia, east to Lesotho and extreme western KwaZulu-Natal (Cavallini 2013). In 1990, an animal was trapped in Wakkerstroom, Mpumalanga, 200 km north of known records in KwaZulu-Natal and Lesotho (Bronner 1990). It is present from sea level around the Western Cape to 1,900 m asl in KwaZulu-Natal (Cavallini 2013). Although there is a slight overlap in the distribution range of Cape Grey Mongoose and that of the closely related Slender Mongoose (Herpestes sanguineus), it is speculated that the otherwise disjoint distribution ranges are a result of competitive exclusion between these species (Skinner & Chimimba 2005).

Population trend

Trend

The Cape Grey Mongoose is common within its wide range in the assessment region. Densities of up to 10 individuals / km² have been recorded in suitable habitat (Cavallini & Nel 1990a). As such, given this species’ large distribution range and assuming a minimum average density of at least 0.1 individual / km², we estimate that there are well over 10,000 mature individuals in the assessment region.

Threats

There are no major threats to this species. Like most small carnivores the Cape Grey Mongoose is occasionally victim of road traffic collisions. On farmland it might also be poisoned accidentally when it feeds on carcasses set out for damage-causing predators such as Black-backed Jackals or Caracals.

Uses and trade

This species is not known to be harvested or traded in any form.

Conservation

This species occurs in a number of protected areas in its range, including the West Coast, Addo Elephant and Mountain Zebra national parks, as well as the Great Fish River Reserve Complex. No specific conservation interventions are necessary at this stage.

Recommendations for land managers and practitioners:
  • No specific management interventions have been identified.
Research priorities:
  • Monitoring subpopulations to detect trends across various land-uses.
  • General studies on the biology (notably reproductive aspects) and ecology of this species in different habitat types.
Encouraged citizen actions:
  • Report sightings on virtual museum platforms (for example, iSpot and MammalMAP), especially outside protected areas.

References 

[@book{275,
 address = {Cambridge},
 author = {Skinner, J.D. and Chimimba, C.T.},
 publisher = {Cambridge University Press, United Kingdom},
 title = {The Mammals of the Southern African Subregion},
 year = {2005}
}
,@book{1087,
 address = {Pretoria, South Africa},
 author = {Meester, J.A.J., Rautenbach, I.L., Dippenaar, N.J. and Baker, C.M.},
 publisher = {Transvaal Museum },
 title = {Classification of Southern African Mammals. Monograph number 5.},
 year = {1986}
}
,@article{1089,
 author = {Bronner, G.N.},
 journal = {Koedoe},
 pages = {1--7},
 title = {New distribution records for four mammal species, with notes on their taxonomy and ecology},
 volume = {33},
 year = {1990}
}
,@inbook{41702,
 address = {Baltimore},
 author = {},
 booktitle = {Order Carnivora},
 editor = {Wozencraft, W.C.},
 pages = {532--628},
 publisher = {Johns Hopkins University Press},
 title = {Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Third Edition},
 year = {2005}
}
,@article{41702,
 author = {Stuart, C.T.},
 journal = {Bontebok},
 pages = {1--58},
 title = {Notes on the mammalian carnivores of the Cape Province, South Africa},
 volume = {1},
 year = {1981}
}
,@article{136713,
 author = {Lynch, C.D.},
 journal = {Navorsinge van die Nasionale Museum Bloemfontein},
 pages = {1--218},
 title = {The mammals of the Orange Free State, South Africa},
 volume = {18},
 year = {1983}
}
,@phdthesis{9453,
 author = {Mbatyoti OA},
 school = {University of Fort Hare},
 title = {The diet of the Cape grey mongoose Galerella pulverulenta in the Albany Thicket Biome (South Africa). B.Sc. Honours Thesis.},
 year = {2010}
}
,@inbook{41590,
 address = {Oxford, UK},
 author = {},
 booktitle = {Systematics and evolution of the mongooses (Herpestidae, Carnivora)},
 editor = {Veron, G., Patou, M.-L. and Jennings, A.P.},
 publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell},
 title = {Small Carnivores: Evolution, Ecology, Behaviour and Conservation},
 year = {In press}
}
,@article{41590,
 author = {Avenant NL, Nel JAJ.},
 journal = {South African Journal of Wildlife Research},
 pages = {86–93},
 title = {Prey use by four syntopic carnivores in a strandveld ecosystem},
 volume = {27},
 year = {1997}
}
,@article{41590,
 author = {du Toit CF.},
 journal = {Koedoe},
 pages = {179–184},
 title = {The yellow mongoose Cynictis penicillata and other small carnivores in the Mountain Zebra National Park},
 volume = {23},
 year = {1980}
}
,@article{41590,
 author = {MacDonald JT, Nel JAJ.},
 journal = {South African Journal of Wildlife Research },
 pages = {115–121},
 title = {Comparative diets of sympatric carnivores.},
 volume = {16},
 year = {1986}
}
,@article{41600,
 author = {Cavallini, P. and Nel, J.A.J.},
 journal = {Journal of Zoology (London)},
 pages = {353--362},
 title = {Ranging behaviour of the Cape grey mongoose <i>Galerella pulverulenta</i> in a coastal area},
 volume = {222},
 year = {1990}
}
,@inbook{41600,
 address = {London, UK},
 author = {},
 booktitle = {<i>Herpestes pulverulentus</i> Cape Grey Mongoose (Small Grey Mongoose)},
 editor = {Cavallini, P.},
 pages = {311--314},
 publisher = {Bloomsbury},
 title = {The Mammals of Africa. 5. Carnivores, Pangolins, Rhinos and Equids},
 year = {2013}
}
,@article{41600,
 author = {Cavallini, P. and Nel, J.A.J.},
 journal = {African Journal of Ecology},
 pages = {123--130},
 title = {The feeding ecology of the Cape grey mongoose, <i>Galerella pulverulenta</i> (Wagner, 1839) in a coastal area},
 volume = {28},
 year = {1990}
}
,@book{41600,
 author = {Weigl, R.},
 title = {Longevity of Mammals in Captivity; from the Living Collections of the World},
 year = {2005}
}
,@article{41600,
 author = {Branch WR, Hanekom N.},
 journal = {Koedoe},
 pages = {49–60},
 title = {The herpetofauna of the Tsitsikamma Coastal and Forest National Parks},
 volume = {30},
 year = {1987}
}
,@article{41600,
 author = {Cavallini P. },
 journal = {Mammalian Species},
 pages = {1– 4},
 title = { Herpestes pulverulentus},
 volume = { 409},
 year = {1992}
}
,@article{41600,
 author = {Crawford PB, Crawford SAH, Crawford RJM.},
 journal = {South African Journal of Wildlife Research},
 pages = {35–40},
 title = {Some observations on Cape grey mongooses Herpestes pulverulentus in the Tsitsikamma National Parks.},
 volume = {13},
 year = {1983}
}
,@article{41600,
 author = {Langley CH. },
 journal = {African Wildlife },
 pages = {203},
 title = {Cape grey mongoose attacks grysbok lambs.},
 volume = {40},
 year = {1986}
}
,@article{41600,
 author = {Lynch CD.},
 journal = {Navorsinge van die Nasionale Museum, Bloemfontein},
 pages = {121–168},
 title = {The status of the Cape grey mongoose, Herpestes pulverulentus Wagner, 1839 (Mammalia: Viverridae).},
 volume = {4},
 year = {1981}
}
,@article{41600,
 author = {Stuart C.},
 journal = {Mustelid & Viverrid Conservation},
 pages = {1–4},
 title = {Aspects of the biology of the small grey mongoose Galerella pulverulenta.},
 volume = {4},
 year = {1991}
}
,@article{41600,
 author = {Stuart, C. and Stuart, T.},
 journal = {Small Carnivore Conservation},
 pages = {9–10},
 title = {Notes on the diet of four species of viverrid in a limited area of southern Namaqualand, Northern Cape, South Africa},
 volume = {19},
 year = {1998}
}
,@article{41600,
 author = {Waser PM, Keane B, Creel SR, Elliot LF, Minchella DJ.},
 journal = {Animal Behaviour},
 pages = {289–294},
 title = {Possible male coalitions in a solitary mongoose},
 volume = { 47},
 year = {1994}
}
,]
Send feedback about this assessment to SANBI

Lead agencies, Partners and Funders

See the partners page