Red List of South African Species

Alternatively, Explore species
| National Red List categories | Partners |
Least Concern (LC)
Assessors: Lynda Sharpe Julie Kern Christopher Stuart Mathilde Stuart Emmanuel Do Linh San
Contributors: Zimkitha Madikiza
Reviewers: Lynda Sharpe Julie Kern Christopher Stuart Mathilde Stuart Emmanuel Do Linh San

Rationale (Changed due to Same category and criteria)

The Common Dwarf Mongoose (hereafter Dwarf Mongoose) is listed as Least Concern as although its distribution is restricted to the northeast of the assessment region, it is common across its range, sometimes attaining high densities (from 20–42 individuals / km2 in some study sites in Limpopo), and is present in several protected areas. There are no major threats that could cause range-wide population decline. Accidental persecution through poisoning and controlled burning may lead to local declines, whilst wildlife ranching may have a positive effect by conserving more suitable habitat and connecting subpopulations. Changing rainfall patterns associated with climate change could affect insect abundance and have an adverse effect on this species, but this would require further investigation.

Regional population effects: Dispersal across regional borders is suspected as the range is continuous between South Africa and Swaziland, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Botswana, respectively; and the species is not constrained by fences.

Distribution

The Dwarf Mongoose is widely distributed from southern Somalia and Ethiopia south to northeast KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa and westwards to southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, southwest and central Angola, and northern Namibia (Creel 2013). It is usually found up to elevations of around 2,000 m asl.

Within the assessment region, it occurs within northern KwaZulu-Natal (southernmost range), Mpumalanga and Limpopo eastern Lowveld and Limpopo Valley into North West Province. However, it is rare in the North West, only occurring in the northern two districts (Power 2014).

Population trend

Trend

It has been reported as the most abundant small carnivore in areas of open woodland or wooded savannah, with densities reaching as high as 31 individuals / km2 in Serengeti grasslands (Rood 1983) though estimates of around 5 individuals / km2 are more typical (Waser et al. 1995). Within the assessment region, recorded density is often much higher; for example, 20 individuals / km2 at Phuza Moya Private Game Reserve, near Hoedspruit, Limpopo Province (L. Sharpe unpubl. data), or even a record density of 42 individuals / km2 at the start of the breeding season in Sorabi Rock Lodge Reserve (Hoffmann et al. 2014). Additionally, it is the most frequently seen diurnal carnivore along the length of the Soutpansberg range in Limpopo Province (C. Stuart & M. Stuart pers. obs. 1985–2013). Generation length is estimated to be 4 years (Sharpe et al. 2015).

Population size is difficult to extrapolate, but there are certainly over 1,000 mature individuals and probably over 10,000 in the assessment region. More monitoring is needed to determine population size and trends accurately, but it is likely that the overall population is stable due to lack of major threats. Local declines may be caused by accidental persecution and controlled burning, while at the same time wildlife ranching is likely to be expanding favourable habitat for this species (see Use and Trade).

Threats

Dwarf Mongooses do not currently face major threats. They are not persecuted directly by wildlife ranchers, but some individuals may be killed as bycatch in control programmes of damage-causing animals (DCAs), especially where poison baits are in use. The impact is however believed to be minimal..

Uses and trade

This species is not used in the bushmeat trade in South Africa, nor traditional medicine as far as we are aware. Its pelt has no commercial value. Pups are sometimes taken from the wild for pets, but they usually die of stress-related illness within about 12 months (G.J. Scheepers pers. comm. 2009).

Wildlife ranching and the private sector are suspected to be having a positive effect on this species by conserving more suitable habitat and possibly helping to connect subpopulations. However, more research needs to be done to confirm this.

Conservation

Dwarf Mongooses are present in most protected areas across the assessment region, including Kruger and Mapungubwe national parks, Waterberg complex and Soutpansberg Biosphere Reserve. Since they attain high densities and have small territories, even small protected areas and wildlife ranches or game farms can harbour large populations (Creel 2013).

Recommendations for land managers and practitioners:
  • Minimise use of non-selective control methods (e.g. poison) for DCAs.
  • Private landowners should ensure that they do not burn the land too frequently and that termite mounds are conserved.
  • Create conservancies to protect and connect favourable habitat.
Research priorities: This is one of the best-studied African small carnivores (see review in Creel 2013) but the following research topics will assist in gathering conservation-relevant information:
  • Long-term monitoring of (some) subpopulations.
  • Evaluation of relative impact of wildlife ranching on habitat and populations.
  • Documenting the degree to which controlled burning impacts on population levels.
There is an ongoing research project on this species located at Sorabi Rock Lodge near Hoedspruit in Limpopo Province. The project, which focuses on the species’ behavioural ecology, was established in 2011 and is run by Bristol University.

Encouraged citizen actions:
  • Report sightings on virtual museum platforms (for example, iSpot and MammalMAP), especially outside protected areas. This will help in improving this species’ distribution map.

References 

[@techreport{5228,
 author = {Power, R.J.},
 institution = {Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation & Tourism, North West Provincial Government, Mahikeng},
 title = {The distribution and status of mammals in the North West Province},
 year = {2014}
}
,@inbook{41382,
 address = {Washington, D. C., USA},
 author = {},
 booktitle = {Order Insectivora},
 editor = {Heim de Balsac, H. and Meester, J.},
 pages = {1--29},
 publisher = {Smithsonian Institution Press},
 title = {The Mammals of Africa: An Identification Manual},
 year = {1977}
}
,@inbook{41702,
 address = {London, UK},
 author = {},
 booktitle = {<i>Genetta tigrina</i> Cape Genet},
 editor = {Gaubert, P.},
 pages = {247--249},
 publisher = {Bloomsbury},
 title = {The Mammals of Africa. V. Carnivores, Pangolins, Equids and Rhinoceroses},
 year = {2013}
}
,@inbook{41606,
 address = {Chicago, IL, USA},
 author = {},
 booktitle = {Habitat variation and mongoose demography},
 editor = {Waser, P.M., Elliott, L.F., Creel, N.M. and Creel, S.R.},
 pages = {421--447},
 publisher = {University of Chicago Press},
 title = {Serengeti II: dynamics, management, and conservation of an ecosystem},
 year = {1995}
}
,@inbook{41609,
 address = {Lawrence, KS, USA},
 author = {},
 booktitle = {The social system of the Dwarf Mongoose},
 editor = {Rood, J.P.},
 publisher = {American Society of Mammalogists (Special Publication 7) and Allen Press},
 title = {Advances in the study of mammalian behaviour},
 year = {1983}
}
,@article{41609,
 author = {Hiscocks, K. and Perrin, M.R.},
 journal = {South African Journal of Wildlife Research},
 pages = {119--122},
 title = {Den selection and use by dwarf mongooses and banded mongooses in South Africa},
 volume = {21},
 year = {1991}
}
,@article{41609,
 author = {Hoffmann, M., Roberts, R.L. and Kern, J.},
 journal = {Small Carnivore Conservation},
 pages = {66--67},
 title = {Tree climbing and denning by Common Dwarf Mongoose <i>Helogale parvula</i>},
 volume = {49},
 year = {2014}
}
,@inbook{41609,
 address = {Princeton, USA},
 author = {},
 booktitle = {Ecology and social evolution in the mongooses},
 editor = {Rood, J.P.},
 pages = {131--152},
 publisher = {Princeton University Press},
 title = {Ecological Aspects of Social Evolution},
 year = {1986}
}
,@article{41609,
 author = {Creel SR, Creel N, Wild DE, Montfort DL.},
 journal = {Animal Behaviour},
 pages = {231–245},
 title = {Creel SR, Creel N, Wild DE, Montfort DL. 1992. Behavioural and endocrine mechanisms of reproductive suppression in Serengeti dwarf mongooses},
 volume = {43},
 year = {1992}
}
,@article{41609,
 author = {Creel SR, Waser PM.},
 journal = {Behavioral Ecology},
 pages = {339–348},
 title = {Inclusive fitness and reproductive strategies in dwarf mongooses},
 volume = {5},
 year = {1994}
}
,@article{41609,
 author = {Keane B, Waser PM, Creel SR, Creel NM, Elliott LF, Minchella DJ.},
 journal = {Animal Behaviour},
 pages = {65–75},
 title = {Subordinate reproduction in dwarf mongooses},
 volume = {47},
 year = {1994}
}
,@article{41609,
 author = {Rasa OAE.},
 journal = {Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology},
 pages = {181–190},
 title = {Dwarf mongoose and hornbill mutualism in the Taru Desert, Kenya},
 volume = {12},
 year = {1983}
}
,@article{41609,
 author = {Rasa OAE},
 journal = {Cimbebasia},
 pages = {15–21},
 title = {Ecological factors and their relationship to group size, mortality and behaviour in the dwarf mongoose},
 volume = {8},
 year = {1986}
}
,@article{41609,
 author = {Rasa OAE},
 journal = {Advances in the Study of Behavior},
 pages = {121–163},
 title = {The dwarf mongoose: a study of behavior and social structure in relation to ecology in a small social carnivore},
 volume = {17},
 year = {1987}
}
,@article{41609,
 author = {Rood JP.},
 journal = {Zeitschrift für Tierpsychologie},
 pages = {277–287},
 title = {Dwarf mongoose helpers at the den.},
 volume = {48},
 year = {1978}
}
,@article{41609,
 author = {Rood JP.},
 journal = {Animal Behaviour},
 pages = {566–572},
 title = {Groups size, reproduction, and routes to breeding in dwarf mongooses},
 volume = {39},
 year = {1990}
}
,@article{41609,
 author = {Sharpe LL, Jooste MM, Cherry MI.},
 journal = {Ethology},
 pages = {575–583},
 title = {Handstand scent marking in the dwarf mongoose (Helogale parvula).},
 volume = {118},
 year = {2012}
}
,@techreport{41609,
 author = {Sharpe L, Kern J, Do Linh San E.},
 title = {Helogale parvula},
 year = {2015}
}
,@article{41609,
 author = {Sharpe LL, Joustra AS, Cherry MI.},
 journal = {Biology Letters},
 pages = {475–477},
 title = {The presence of an avian co-forager reduces vigilance in a cooperative mammal.},
 volume = { 6},
 year = {2010}
}
,@article{41609,
 author = {Sharpe LL, Rubow J, Cherry MI.},
 journal = {Animal Behaviour},
 pages = {229–236},
 title = {Robbing rivals: interference foraging competition reflects female reproductive competition in a cooperative mammal},
 volume = {112},
 year = {2016}
}
,]
Send feedback about this assessment to SANBI

Lead agencies, Partners and Funders

See the partners page