There are around thirty species of mongoose. These guys are banded mongooses. Yes, the plural is mongooses (not mongeese) and a group of them is called a mob (or sometimes a pack). They look a lot like meerkats and are, in fact, in the same family. This mob of mongooses was photographed in the Maasai Mara of Kenya. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/8 at 1/500th of a second.
Yes, they do resemble meerkats. But are those stripes across their bottoms? And may I add, I just love saying “a mob of mongooses”! Do they chatter a lot?
Yes, the stripes, thus the name “banded” mongoose. They do chatter a bit. Sometimes high pitched, sometimes more guttural. See this video. Interestingly, they have a high pitched chatter when mating and courtship which is called “giggling.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1HKpaBMSJI
Do individual mongooses within the mongoose mob have mongoose mob nicknames? Like Anthony “Little Stripes” Vatrano, Nick “Big Snout” Montavonte, and Bucky “Snarls” Lenihan? Also, what are the rules for dealing with a made mongoose?
All valid questions Louis. Does each of the 30 species have its own boss, or are the bosses more regional than that? I’ll ask around next time I’m in the area.
In your still photo, it looks like only the little one knew you were there. (That eye contact thing I like.) But I’m glad to hear they giggle, because they make ME giggle! The video was fun with a skirmish over a free handout. They evidently belong to the clean plate club too.
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Yes, they do resemble meerkats. But are those stripes across their bottoms? And may I add, I just love saying “a mob of mongooses”! Do they chatter a lot?
Yes, the stripes, thus the name “banded” mongoose. They do chatter a bit. Sometimes high pitched, sometimes more guttural. See this video. Interestingly, they have a high pitched chatter when mating and courtship which is called “giggling.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1HKpaBMSJI
I’m with Mama Crane, first thing I noticed was the stripes! I love the look.
Of course, this is a different mongoose than the one you’re married to. He’s the slender mongoose.
https://seancrane.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/slender_mongoose_tony.jpg
Do individual mongooses within the mongoose mob have mongoose mob nicknames? Like Anthony “Little Stripes” Vatrano, Nick “Big Snout” Montavonte, and Bucky “Snarls” Lenihan? Also, what are the rules for dealing with a made mongoose?
All valid questions Louis. Does each of the 30 species have its own boss, or are the bosses more regional than that? I’ll ask around next time I’m in the area.
Love this question from Louis! Made me laugh out loud!
Yes, Louis makes me LOL on the regular.
Love that U found them together for photo
Aunt Sue
Check out the 23:00 mark:
https://youtu.be/-nwBdDnDDG0
Wait a minute, it only goes up to 22:58.
In your still photo, it looks like only the little one knew you were there. (That eye contact thing I like.) But I’m glad to hear they giggle, because they make ME giggle! The video was fun with a skirmish over a free handout. They evidently belong to the clean plate club too.
Awesome – the video was fascinating. Their body “style” makes me mindful of river otters, though otters seem to be on a larger scale.