Herpestes ichneumon – Large Grey Mongoose there are no major threats, and it is present in a number of protected areas within the assessment region. This species seems to be very adaptable, occupying a large range of habitats in its wide distribution range, but it might be more specialised in the assessment region, possibly as a result of intraguild competition and predation pressure. Because this species is often associated with riparian habitats and wetlands, we therefore recommend monitoring in areas where development may be affecting water supply and/or quality, to determine potential negative impacts on this mongoose through changes in understorey vegetation (for cover) and possibly food availability. Gregg & Des Darling Regional population effects: The Large Grey Mongoose can disperse across regional borders between South Regional Red List status (2016) Least Concern Africa and Mozambique, as its range is continuous across much of southeast Africa and this species is not National Red List status (2004) Least Concern constrained by fences. Considering that this mongoose Reasons for change No change has generally not been recorded very far inland (see Figure 1), it is, however, possible that dispersal and Global Red List status (2016) Least Concern movements are at least partially dependent upon the TOPS listing (NEMBA) (2007) None presence of water corridors – and related (understorey) vegetation – such as permanent and seasonal rivers and CITES listing None streams, dam networks or wetlands. Endemic No Distribution The Large Grey Mongoose is largely unaffected by the venom of at least some snake species. The Large Grey Mongoose is found mainly in sub-Saharan Barchan et al. (1992) showed that the binding site Africa, from Senegal and Gambia to East Africa, then of their acetylcholine receptors is resistant to the southwards in Angola, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique. α-neurotoxins of these reptiles. It is present in Gabon only in the south, but Bahaa-el-din et al. (2013) recently recorded the species 105 km north of its previously known range. It is absent from much of southern Africa, but is present in northeast Namibia, northern Botswana, northern and eastern Zimbabwe, and all along the South African coastline (Palomares 2013). In Taxonomy North Africa, it ranges in a narrow coastal strip from Herpestes ichneumon (Linnaeus 1758) Western Sahara to Tunisia, and also from northern and ANIMALIA - CHORDATA - MAMMALIA - CARNIVORA - eastern Egypt southwards to Ethiopia (Palomares 2013). It HERPESTIDAE - Herpestes - ichneumon has been reported from sea level to 1,950 m asl in the Moroccan High Atlas, and to 3,000 m asl in the Ethiopian Synonyms: Viverra ichneumon Highlands (Yalden et al. 1996). This species has not been introduced to Madagascar (Goodman 2012), contrary to Common names: Large Grey Mongoose, Egyptian what may have been suggested in some sources Mongoose, Ichneumon, Ichneumon Mongoose (English), (e.g. Haltenorth & Diller 1980). Grootgrysmuishond (Afrikaans), Mosêlamotlhaka (Tswana), Inhlangala (Zulu) Extralimitally to the African mainland, this species is also found from the Sinai Peninsula to the south of Turkey Taxonomic status: Species (Delibes 1999), and on the Iberian Peninsula in southern Taxonomic notes: Meester et al. (1986) recognised two and central Portugal (Borralho et al. 1995) and southwestern subspecies of Herpestes ichneumon in southern Africa; Spain (Delibes 1999). Herpestes ichneumon was initially namely H. i. cafer (Gmelin 1788) from Hermanus in the believed to have been introduced by humans into Europe, Western Cape along the coast to KwaZulu-Natal, and into based on zoogeographical considerations (Delibes 1999) Mpumalanga, eastern Swaziland, Mozambique and and on the grounds that the species is absent from the Zimbabwe; and H. i. mababiensis Roberts 1932, which is European fossil record, although late Pleistocene and restricted to northern Botswana. Holocene fossils are known from North Africa (Dobson 1998). However, a recent molecular and phylogeographic study rather supported a scenario of sweepstake dispersal Assessment Rationale across the strait of Gibraltar during Late Pleistocene sea- The Large Grey Mongoose is listed as Least Concern as level fluctuations, followed by long-term in situ evolution the species is relatively common, with a very wide diet, throughout the last glaciation cycles (Gaubert et al. 2011). Recommended citation: Do Linh San E, Emslie K, Maddock AH, Perrin MR, Stuart C, Stuart M, Palomares F. 2016. A conservation assessment of Herpestes ichneumon. In Child MF, Roxburgh L, Do Linh San E, Raimondo D, Davies-Mostert HT, editors. The Red List of Mammals of South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho. South African National Biodiversity Institute and Endangered Wildlife Trust, South Africa. The Red List of Mammals of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland Herpestes ichneumon | 1 Figure 1. Distribution records for Large Grey Mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) within the assessment region Table 1. Countries of occurrence within southern Africa presence of this small carnivore has been overlooked in at least some areas due to its relatively low densities (see Country Presence Origin Population) and secretive nature. However, it is also Botswana Extant Native possible that interspecific competition with other abundant Lesotho Possibly extant Native and generalist small carnivores such as the Cape Grey Mongoose (Herpestes pulverulentus) and to a lesser Mozambique Extant Native extent the Slender Mongoose (H. sanguineus) might play Namibia Extant Native a role, particularly in the Nama-Karoo and Grassland biomes, respectively. Additionally, the impact of South Africa Extant Native mesopredators such as Black-backed Jackals (Canis Swaziland Extant Native mesomelas) and Caracals (Caracal caracal) on this mongoose is likely to be stronger in the more open Zimbabwe Extant Native habitats that characterise these two biomes. The importance of intraguild predation or at least predation pressure (creating a “landscape of fear”) on this species In the assessment region the Large Grey Mongoose is has been demonstrated in Spain where Herpestes mostly present along the coast, from the Western Cape ichneumon is rare in areas where the Iberian Lynx (Lynx (as far north as Kleinsee; record not indicated on Figure 1) pardinus) is abundant (Palomares et al. 1996). The to KwaZulu-Natal through the Eastern Cape Province. The presence of the Large Grey Mongoose in the inland species is possibly extant in eastern Lesotho (Lynch 1994) biomes might be restricted to densely vegetated linear and has been recorded in the Lubombo region of riverine habitats and pockets of wetlands – although it Swaziland (Skinner & Chimimba 2005). It is present in the does not seem to be the case far inland (see Figure 1) – extreme east of Mpumalanga Province, essentially in and where it may compete for food and safe resting sites Kruger National Park. However, the species has been with the Water Moongoose (Atilax paludinosus). observed in Marievale Bird Sanctuary, Gauteng in 2016 (V. Pretorius & M. Pretorius pers. comm. 2016), as well as camera-trapped and observed at Sasol’s Synfuels Plant in Population Secunda, Mpumalanga, in 2014–2016 (K. Emslie et al. In Europe the range and population size of the Large Grey unpubl. data). These recent observations therefore Mongoose have increased over the past 35 years, in both suggest that the distribution range of the Large Grey Portugal and Spain, due to the reduction of this species’ Mongoose in the assessment region might be much larger natural predators (Delibes 1999), as well as land-use than initially thought. Although range expansion cannot be change and climate change (Barros et al. 2015). excluded, the most parsimonious explanation is that the Herpestes ichneumon | 2 The Red List of Mammals of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland On the African mainland, this species is widespread and and in southeastern Nigeria (Angelici et al. 1999); and in locally common (Palomares 2013). Densities ranging from Egypt, Kasparek (1993) reported that the species inhabits 0.1 (East Africa: Hendrichs 1972) to 1.2 individual(s) / km² desert areas far from the coast. In Europe, it is found in (South Africa: Maddock 1988) have been recorded. Mediterranean maquis, with a clear preference for humid Palomares and Delibes (1992a) estimated a density of and riparian habitats (Delibes 1999). 2 individuals / km² in optimal habitats in Spain. This is Large Grey Mongooses are entirely terrestrial, but they are generally well below maximum densities documented for good swimmers. They can sometimes be observed other mongoose species in the assessment region, but it foraging along pond or dam banks (Photo 1), and in the is still relatively high. It is currently not possible to estimate shallow waters, as Water Mongooses do. Their strong population size precisely, but we infer that the population forelimbs and long, curved claws also make them is currently stable based on this species’ extent of particularly suited to digging for prey. They are occurrence and the lack of major threats (see Threats). opportunistic, omnivorous feeders, and their diet may vary Current population trend: Unknown, but probably stable. seasonally, regionally, and even between neighbouring family groups (Palomares 1993a). Accordingly, the range Continuing decline in mature individuals: Unknown, but of prey is wide and includes small mammals, birds, probably not. reptiles and amphibians, fish, crabs, insects and Number of mature individuals