Galerella pulverulenta (Wagner, 1839)

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2009, Herpestidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 1 Carnivores, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 262-328 : 316

16.

Cape Gray Mongoose

Galerella pulverulenta

French: Mangouste du Cap / German: Kap-Schlankichneumon / Spanish: Mangosta de El Cabo

Taxonomy. Herpestes pulverulentus Wagner, 1839 ,

type locality “ Cape ”, exact locality unknown.

The Cape Gray Mongoose has been placed in the genus Galerella o Herpestes by different authors. Traditionally, six subspecies were recognized: ruddi, nigrata, shortridger, basutica, annulata, and the nominate form, although skull morphological analyses failed to reveal any quantitative distinctiveness. G. nigrata, annulata, and shortridgei are now regarded as synonyms of G. flavescens . Three subspecies are recognized here.

Subspecies and Distribution.

G. p. pulverulenta Wagner, 1839 — Namibia, South Africa (Western, Eastern and Northern Cape & Free State).

G. p. basutica Roberts, 1936 — E Lesotho to South Africa (W KwaZulu-Natal).

G. p. rudd: Thomas, 1903 — South Africa (extreme NW portion of the species range).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 34-42 cm (males), 33-35. 5 cm (females), tail 20.5-34 cm (both sexes), hindfoot 5:9.7-5 cm (males), 5.2-7. 5 cm (females), ear 1.5-3. 6 cm (both sexes); weight 680-1250 g (males), 491-900 g (females). A small mongoose, with short legs and a long, bushy tail (c. 90% of head and body length). The body and tail are grizzled gray (from light gray to dark brownish-gray); the underparts are less grizzled. The muzzle and legs are darker. The head is pointed. The ears are slightly darker, small, close to the head, and partly covered by a band of longer hairs. The rhinarium is small, with a central depression that continues downwards and divides the haired section of the upperlip. The tip ofthe tail is sometimes inconspicuously shaded brown (the hair on thetail is short: less than 20 mm). Individual guard hairs are black or gray, with four to six white to yellowish bands. There are five digits on each foot, with the first one reduced. The heel pad is not haired and the claws are not very long. Females have three pairs of mammae. Skull length usually more than 67 mm (males) and less than 63 mm (females), with ovoid braincase and short rostrum. Dental formula: 13/3, C1/1,P 3/4, M 2/2 = 38. The outer incisors are slightly larger than the inner ones. The lower canines are distinctly curved. In the upperjaw, the first molar is small, and the second molaris very small.

Habitat. Found in a wide range of habitats, in forested as well as non-forested areas, but generally avoids open spaces. Occurs mainly in Karoo and Karroid bushveld, and sclerophyllous bush, and is often associated with refuge areas such as dense bushes and rocky outcrops, but avoids open fields with short vegetation. More common in dry than in wet areas (especially areas with a warm temperate climate), butis absent from the driest parts of the region (Kalahari thornveld; rainfall below 20 cm). Sometimes found close to human settlements. Recorded from sea level (around the Western Cape) to 1900 m (KwaZulu-Natal).

Food and Feeding. An opportunistic predator,its diet includes a wide range of prey from termites and grasshoppers to snakes and rodents. Nevertheless, the staple foods are generally small mammals or insects. In the West Coast National Park (Western Cape), murids predominated in the diet (90%), with insects (5%) forming a secondary food resource. Vlei rats and Foursstriped Grass Mouse appear to be favored murid prey. It has been recorded feeding on larger mammals such as Scrub Hares (Lepus saxatilis) and Cape Porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis), and has even been known to attack and kill Cape Grysbok (Raphiceros melanotis) lambs by tearing at the nose and mouth. However, because it scavenges, it is uncertain to what extent large prey in the diet is the result of active predation. They have been observed to associate with small raptors (African marsh harrier Circus ranivorus) while foraging. Usually moves from bush to bush, inspecting potential foraging sites like holes and rodent nests. It seems to rely mainly on sight and smell for food searching. It scratches the soil in search of invertebrates, but is not an avid digger. Insects caught on the ground are held down with the front feet and then taken directly in the mouth. Larger prey are stalked, the killing bite delivered to the head. Small mammals are chewed in the side of the mouth. Insects are thoroughly masticated. Larger and tougher prey is held firmly on the ground with the front feet and torn apart. Cape Gray Mongooses can break eggs by throwing them against a vertical surface.

Activity patterns. Predominantly diurnal; activity is more common at sunset and sunrise, but is reduced in bad weather and at high temperatures. Occasionally rests for variable lengths of time around midday.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Normally seen singly, but groups of up to five have been recorded (more often in summer and early autumn, after parturition). Of 163 sightings, 151 were of single animals, seven were of pairs, and five were of groups of three. Groups typically consist of one or two adults and juveniles. Males may show some sociality, with stable pairs composed of a large and a small individual. In the West Coast National Park (Western Cape), home range sizes of three males were 55-92 ha; a female had the smallest range (30-6 ha); another female, ajuvenile, ranged more widely (359 ha), possibly dispersing. Home ranges overlapped widely, both within and between sexes. In the Vrolijkheid Nature Conservation Station (Little Karoo region, South Africa) the mean home range size of four animals was between 5-36 ha, and there appeared to be considerable overlap in home ranges. While foraging, individuals usually move 50-100 m every 15 minutes, and travel on average, 4 km during the course of a day’s foraging.

Breeding. Seasonal breeders, probably at the end of winter (August to December). Lactating females have been found in August, and in November to February. Litter size is one to three. Rock crevices, farm outbuildings, fodder stores, and woodpiles are used for rearing young.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern in The IUCN Red List. No significant conservation threats are known. Human development is unlikely to have an impact, as they seem to adapt easily to living close to houses.

Bibliography. Cavallini (1992a), Cavallini & Nel (1990a, 1990b, 1995), Lynch (1981, 1983), Skinner & Chimimba (2005), Stuart (1991), Watson & Dippenaar (1987).

Figures

On following pages: 15. Somalian Slender Mongoose (Galerella ochracea); 16. Cape Gray Mongoose (Galerella pulverulenta); 17. Common Slender Mongoose (Galerella sanguinea); 18. White-tailed Mongoose (/chneumia albicauda); 19. Selous's Mongoose (Paracynictis selous)); 20. Bushy-tailed Mongoose (Bdeogale crassicauda); 21. Jackson's Mongoose (Bdeogale jackson); 22. Black-footed Mongoose (Bdeogale nigripes); 23. Meller’s Mongoose (Rhynchogale melleri).

Subspecies and Distribution. G. p. pulverulenta Wagner, 1839 — Namibia , South Africa (Western, Eastern and Northern Cape & Free State). G. p. basutica Roberts, 1936 — E Lesotho to South Africa (W KwaZulu-Natal). G. p. rudd: Thomas, 1903 — South Africa (extreme NW portion of the species range).