Helogale Gray, 1862 . Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1861:308 [1862].

TYPE SPECIES: Herpestes parvulus Sundevall, 1846, by subsequent designation by Thomas (1882) (Melville and Smith, 1987).

COMMENTS: The number of taxa ascribed to this genus is provisional. Ellerman et al. (1953) recognized 7 species, Allen (1939) listed eleven. The acceptance here of two, follows Coetzee (1977b). The range of H. hirtula is included within that of H. parvula .