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The mysterious mongoose-badger: How this tiny predator played a major role in history.
The mongoose badger is a small terrestrial carnivorous mammal belonging to the family Herpestidae. There are two subfamilies within this family, Herpestinae, which contains 23 extant species found mainly in southern Europe, Africa, and Asia, and Mungotinae, which contains 11 species found mainly in Africa. The ancestor of this family can be traced back to the Early Pliocene about 21.8 million years ago, and a genetic split occurred between 19.1 and 18.5 million years ago.
“The name mongoose-badger is derived from the Indian names for species of Herpestes, such as muṅgūs and maṅgūs.”
Characteristics of the mongoose-badger
The mongoose-badger has an elongated face and body, small, rounded ears, short legs, and a long, tapering tail. Most mongoose badgers are striped or gray-brown in color, and a few species have distinct fur patterns that give them a similar appearance to mustelids. Additionally, the non-retractable claws of the mongoose-badger are primarily used for digging.
These small animals have eyes with elongated oval pupils and possess a large anal gland that is used primarily for marking territory and signaling mating status. The mongoose-badger has a dental formula of 3.1.3–4.1–23.1.3–4.1–2, a body length from head to body of approximately 24 to 58 cm, and a weight of between 320 g and 5 Between kilograms.
"The mongoose-badger is believed to be one of at least four mammals known to have a mutation in the nicotinic acid acetylcholine receptor that confers resistance to snake venom."
Taxonomy of the mongoose-badger
The scientific classification history of mongoose-badgers can be traced back to 1845, when Charles Lucien Bonaparte proposed to classify mongoose-badgers in the subfamily of rodents. Then in 1864, John Edward Grey divided the mongoose-badgers into three subfamilies: Galidiinae, Herpestinae, and Mungotinae. This division was supported by Reginald Ines Pocock in 1919, who called the family Mungotidae. Genetic studies have shown that Galidiinae are more closely related to carnivores from Madagascar, such as the fossa and the Malagasy cat.
Behavior and ecology
Mongoose badgers feed mainly on insects, crabs, earthworms, lizards, birds and rodents, and also eat eggs and carrion. Some breeds are capable of learning simple tricks and have been domesticated and kept as pets for vermin control.
"In ancient Mesopotamia, the mongoose was considered a sacred animal to the god Nikelim."
Cultural Significance
In ancient Mesopotamia, mongoose badgers were closely associated with gods who protected humans from snakes. According to a Babylonian proverb, when a mouse escapes to a snake hole near a mongoose-badger, he will say: "I bring you greetings from the snake charmer!" The mongoose-badger also appeared in the relief art of ancient Babylonia, although Its significance is unclear.
In addition to their roles in nature, mongoose-badgers also have a place in literature. Among them, "Riki-Tiki-Tavi," a short story written by Rudolph Kipling in The Jungle Book, tells the story of a young pet mongoose-badger who saves his family from a venomous snake. The story has spawned several films and songs and remains appealing today. Additionally, in Arthur Conan Doyle's The Adventures of a Crooked Man, the meerkat is mentioned as a key character in the ending.
In the United States, keeping mongoose badgers as pets is prohibited, primarily based on their potential threat to local ecosystems.
As the cultural and ecological importance of mongoose-badgers grows, should we reassess the place and role of these small predators in the larger ecology?
