Red List of South African Species

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Least Concern (LC)
Assessors: Emmanuel Do Linh San Christopher Stuart Mathilde Stuart
Reviewers: Zimkitha Madikiza Claire Relton

Rationale

Listed as Least Concern as they are common across the assessment region and exist in a wide range of habitat types - even in human-modified habitats where they feed opportunistically. There is mo reason to be believe they are currently threatened.

Distribution

The White-tailed Mongoose is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal and Gambia to the Horn of Africa, and then southwards to southeast South Africa (Taylor 2013). Extralimital to the African continent, it is present along much of the coast of Saudi Arabia to Oman and also recorded from Farasan Kabir Island in the Red Sea, where they may have been introduced (Taylor 2013). It ranges from sea level to 3,500 m asl in Ethiopia (Admasu et al. 2004).

In southern Africa, it ranges marginally into the extreme northeastern parts of Namibia, in northern Botswana, and through most of Zimbabwe and Mozambique, aside from the more arid regions (Skinner & Chimimba 2005). Within the assessment region, the species occurs in the eastern lowveld of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, southwards to KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State and the Eastern Cape as far as Addo Elephant National Park. In the North West Province, the species is thought to have significantly expanded its range westward, the furthest recorded sighting being Westend Dam, near Setlagole (Power 2014).

Population trend

Trend

This species is considered common, and in some parts of its southern African range is considered one of the most common small carnivores (Skinner & Chimimba 2005). Densities as high as 4.3 individuals / km² were reported from the Serengeti (Waser 1980). Considering the relatively wide distribution of this species and 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 the species, although they may be caught incidentally in predator control programmes principally aimed at Black-backed Jackal Canis mesomelas and Caracal Caracal caracal (Taylor 2013).

Uses and trade

Although this species is not known to be utilised as bushmeat within the assessment region, Taylor (1972) suggested that humans were probably the major predator on adult White-tailed Mongooses. There may be limited or opportunistic use of White-tailed Mongoose skins for traditional ceremonial purposes in Venda villages of the Limpopo Province (C. Stuart & M. Stuart pers. obs. 1985–1986).

Conservation

The White-tailed Mongoose is present in many protected areas across its range. No conservation interventions are currently deemed necessary within the assessment region, but monitoring is recommended. This species is likely to benefit from the expansion of protected areas to connect suitable habitat patches.

Recommendations for land managers and practitioners:
  • Create conservancies to protect and connect habitat.
Research priorities:
  • Monitoring subpopulations to determine population size and trends.
  • General studies on the biology 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. As confusion with other mongoose species is possible, a photograph is required for confirmation of identification.

References 

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 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,
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 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}
}
,@phdthesis{1087,
 author = {Rautenbach, I.L.},
 school = {University of Natal},
 title = {The mammals of the Transvaal},
 year = {1978}
}
,@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}
}
,@article{41702,
 author = {Stuart, C.T.},
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 title = {Notes on the mammalian carnivores of the Cape Province, South Africa},
 volume = {1},
 year = {1981}
}
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 pages = {1–48},
 title = {The small carnivores of Natal.},
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,@book{9492,
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 author = {Shortridge, G.C.},
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 title = {The mammals of South West Africa: a biological account of the forms occurring in that region},
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}
,@article{15642,
 author = {Waser, P.M.},
 journal = {African Journal of Ecology},
 pages = {167--185},
 title = {Small nocturnal carnivores: ecological studies in the Serengeti},
 volume = {18},
 year = {1980}
}
,@book{41620,
 address = {Sevenoaks, UK},
 author = {Harrison, D.L. and Bates, P.J.J.},
 publisher = {Harrison Zoological Museum},
 title = {The Mammals of Arabia},
 year = {1991}
}
,@article{41620,
 author = {Admasu, E., Thirgood, S.J., Bekele, A. and Laurenson M.K.},
 journal = {African Journal of Ecology},
 pages = {153--159},
 title = {Spatial ecology of white-tailed mongoose in farmland in the ethiopian highlands},
 volume = {42},
 year = {2004}
}
,@article{41620,
 author = {Taylor ME},
 journal = {Mammalian Species},
 pages = {1–4},
 title = {Ichneumia albicauda},
 volume = {12},
 year = {1972}
}
,]
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