About Banded Mongooses
Banded mongooses (Mungos mungo) are small (ca.1.5Kg) diurnal mammals belonging to the Family Herpestidae. They live in mixed sex groups which average around 20 individuals, but groups may sometimes grow to more than 70 individuals. Each group contains multiple breeding males and females, plus subadults and offspring. Groups sleep together in a single communal den, changing between den sites every 3-5 days. They emerge at sunrise and forage as a group in the morning and afternoon before returning to the den at sunset.
Diet
Mostly insects and other invertebrates, plus occasional reptiles, birds eggs and small reptiles.
Reproduction and care of young
Each group breeds on average four times a year. Unusually, there is no reproductive suppression of subordinate females in this species, and most females breed in each breeding attempt. In around most breeding attempts all pregnant females give birth on exactly the same day! This level of birth synchrony is unique among mammals.
Pups are kept underground for 3-4 weeks before emerging from the den to join the group on foraging trips. During this period offspring are guarded at the den by one or more 'babysitters', usually males. After they start to travel with the group pups are guarded by adult escorts, again usually males. Each escort forms an exclusive bond with a single pup, guarding it from predators and teaching it to find and handle food.
Dispersal
Adult females are forcibly evicted from the group when their numbers grow large. Females are evicted en masse by older females and sometimes males. When these dispersing females encounter neighbouring groups they may be joined by groups of subordinate males to start a new group.
Intergroup relations
Relations between groups are highly aggressive and mongooses are sometimes killed and injured during intergroup encounters. Nevertheless, breeding females will often mate with males from a rival group in the midst of a fight.
