Marsh Mongoose Factfile
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Scientific Name : Atilax paludinosus
Geographical Distribution
Marsh mongooses are found in almost any part of Africa which has plenty of water (rivers, lakes, streams).
Habitat
They prefer
swampy places next to rivers and lakes, making pathways through the long vegetation
so that they can move around easily.
However, thes mongooses are quite adaptable, so they can survive in other
habitats too; some of them live in dry, hilly areas away from water.
Feeding
They are
omnivorous animals, feeding on a large variety of small animals, birds' eggs
and fruit. Some of their favourite foods are freshwater crabs, mussels, snails,
giant millipedes, snakes and frogs.
They often find food by sifting through the fwater with their sensitive hands,
keeping their heads above water.
Their strong, sharp teeth are good at biting into things, but if they gave
a problem getting their jaws round things like eggs or large snails, they
bash the food against something hard to break it open.
Predators
Marsh mongooses are preyed on by hawks, eagles, jackals and large snakes.
Breeding
Marsh mongooses breed twice a year. The female makes a nest from dry grasses in a hole in the ground, where she gives birth to between 1-3 young. They leave the nest after a couple of months.
(N.B. Digging holes can be a problem in wet, muddy places, so the female might have to make her nest above ground, using reeds and sticks.)