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Jackson's mongoose

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Jackson's mongoose
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Feliformia
Family: Herpestidae
Genus: Bdeogale
Species:
B. jacksoni
Binomial name
Bdeogale jacksoni
Thomas, 1894
Jackson's mongoose range

Jackson's mongoose (Bdeogale jacksoni) is a species of mongoose belonging to the genus Bdeogale. Discovered in 1889 by Frederick John Jackson, Oldfield Thomas in 1894 described it as Galeriscus jacksoni. It is most closely related to the black-footed mongoose of the same subgenus Galeriscus and both are sometimes united in a single species.

With a head and body length of more than 50 cm (20 in) and a body weight of 2–3 kg (4.4–6.6 lb), it is a large mongoose. Its long and dense fur is grizzled black and white, the cheeks, the throat and the sides of the neck are very yellowish, the legs are dark brown or black, and the bushy tail is white.

Jackson's mongoose feeds on rodents and insects, especially on army ants, and is mainly nocturnal and crepuscular and possibly solitary. Its distributional range in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania is limited to some arboreous mountain regions. It appears to be rare, and in 2008, the IUCN classified it as Near Threatened.

Taxonomy

Galeriscus jacksoni was the scientific name proposed by Oldfield Thomas in 1894 based on a skin of a badger-like animal collected by Frederick John Jackson in Kenya. He specified the type locality as Mianzini in Maasailand at an elevation of 2,400 m (8,000 ft).[2] The generic name Galeriscus was recognised as a valid taxon by Paul Matschie, Glover Morrill Allen and Donovan Reginald Rosevear.[3][4][5][1]

Jackson's mongoose was placed in the genus Bdeogale by Reginald Innes Pocock in 1916, who recognised that the animal was a mongoose and considered Galeriscus a synonym of Bdeogale.[6] This classification has been widely followed.[7][8][9][10]

Characteristics

Jackson's mongoose is a large mongoose with a bushy tail. Its head and body length is 50.8–57.1 cm (20.0–22.5 in), its tail length is 28.3 to 32.4 centimeters, its hind foot length is 8.6 to 10.8 cm, its ear length is 2.3 to 3.5 cm and its body weight is 2–3 kg.[11] Young but already breeding animals may be markedly smaller than adults. From the black-footed mongoose, it is distinguishable by its much longer fur, especially on the tail, and yellowish tints on the neck and the throat.[10]

The long and dense dorsal fur is grizzled black and white. The dorsal hairs are 20 mm (0.79 in) long with black and white rings. The muzzle and the chin are brownish white and the cheeks, the throat and the sides of the neck are very yellowish. The legs are dark brown or black and the tail is white. The ventral side is light gray and the underfur is dense and woolly. The pinnae are round and broad and the muzzle is blunt. The rhinarium is large, and the hairless extension of the median groove divides the upper lip. The fore and hind feet have only four digits. A hallux and pollex are absent as is common with Bdeogale. The soles are naked, and the claws are thick and strong.[11]

The dentition of Jackson's mongoose is typical for mongooses. Three incisors, one canine, four premolars and two molars are on either side of each jaw. The total number of teeth is 40 and the dental formula is 3.1.4.23.1.4.2 × 2 = 40.[11]

Distribution and habitat

Jackson's mongoose is known from central and southern Kenya, and southeastern Uganda.[1] In Tanzania's Udzungwa Mountains, it was first recorded in 2001.[12][13] It lives in montane forests, bamboo zones, and lowland forests in mountain vicinity.[10] In the Aberdare Range, the Mount Kenya massif, and the Mount Elgon massif, it occurs at elevations up to 3300 m.[1] In the Udzungwa Mountains, it seems highly localized and has only been recorded within Matunda Forest at a maximum of 2.65 km apart. It possibly inhabits other massifs of the Eastern Arc Mountains, including the Uluguru Mountains, the Nguru Mountains and the Usambara Mountains.[1]

Behaviour and ecology

It probably hunts frequently in the thick herbaceous plant growth around swamps.[1]

Jackson's mongoose is carnivorous, insectivorous and myrmecophagous. In the Aberdare Mountains, the volume of food items in 40 scats was over 50% rodents, including Otomys, Dasymys and Praomys and 40% insects, mostly army ants of the genus Anomma, but also weevils, other beetles and caterpillars. Millipedes, snails, lizards, and the eggs of snakes were also consumed. About 80% of the juveniles' diet were rodents, including Otomys, brush-furred mice, true mice and Praomys. They also fed on beetles, lizards, birds, and a few ants.[11][10] Coping with columns of army ants may depend on maturity and learning, which suggests a recent evolutionary adaptation to this diet.[10]

Jackson's mongoose is mainly nocturnal and crepuscular.[10] In the Udzungwa Mountains, 73% of 25 photos taken by camera traps during the night were shot between 7 p.m. and midnight. It is possibly solitary, but often is seen in pairs and occasionally in groups of four. Nothing is known about its reproduction.[11]

Population and conservation

Jackson's mongoose occurs in isolated populations and appears to be rare.[11] There are no reliable data on its population, though. The International Union for Conservation of Nature in 2008 classified it as Near Threatened, almost qualifying as Threatened. This was justified with its assumed decline in population size of 20 to 25% within the last 15 years due to habitat destruction. Given its dependence on forest habitat, its main threat is likely to be ongoing forest loss. It was classified as Insufficiently Known in 1988, 1990 and 1994, and as Vulnerable in 1996.[1]

Several populations of Jackson's mongoose are in protected areas, including Aberdare National Park, Mount Kenya National Park, probably Mount Elgon National Park and Udzungwa Mountains National Park. In Tanzania, all confirmed localities are within protected areas. It is also probably more widely distributed than currently known. De Luca and Rovero (2006) recommend the full protection of forests adjacent to the Udzungwa Mountains National Park and a survey of other East African groundwater-dependent forests for its presence.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h De Luca, W.; Rovero, F.; Do Linh San, E. (2015). "Bdeogale jacksoni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T2675A45196818. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |last-author-amp= ignored (|name-list-style= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ Thomas, O. (1894). "On a new African Genus of Mustelidae". The Annals and Magazine of Natural History : Zoology, Botany, and Geology. 6. 13 (78): 522–524.
  3. ^ Matschie, P. (1895). "Gattung: Galeriscus Thos. (1894) – Masaimarder". Die Säugethiere Deutsch-Ost-Afrikas. Berlin: Geographische Verlagshandlung Dietrich Reimer. p. 84. {{cite book}}: External link in |chapterurl= (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ Allen, G. M. (1939). "A Checklist of African Mammals". Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. 83: 1–763.
  5. ^ Rosevear, D. R. (1974). "Genus Galeriscus Thomas, 1894". The Carnivores of West Africa. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). pp. 321–329. ISBN 0-565-00723-8. {{cite book}}: External link in |chapterurl= (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ Pocock, R. I. (1916). "A new genus of African mongooses, with a note on Galeriscus". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 17 (98): 176–179. doi:10.1080/00222931608693764.
  7. ^ Hollister, N. (1918). "East African Mammals in the United States National Museum. Part I: Insectivora, Chiroptera, and Carnivora". Bulletin of the United States National Museum (99): 1–194. doi:10.5479/si.03629236.99.1.
  8. ^ Wozencraft, W. C. (2005). "Species Bdeogale jacksoni". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 563. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  9. ^ Van Rompaey, H.; Kingdon, J.S. (2013). "Bdeogale jacksoni Jackson's Mongoose". In Kingdon, J.; Hoffmann, M. (eds.). The Mammals of Africa. Vol. V. Carnivores, Pangolins, Equids and Rhinoceroses. London, UK: Bloomsbury. pp. 323–326. ISBN 9781408189962. {{cite book}}: External link in |chapterurl= (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |last-author-amp= ignored (|name-list-style= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ a b c d e f Kingdon, J. (2015) [1997]. "Bdeogale jacksoni". The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals (Second ed.). London, New Delhi, New York, Sydney: Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 444. ISBN 9781472925312. {{cite book}}: External link in |chapterurl= (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ a b c d e f Gilchrist, J. S.; Jennings, A. P.; Veron, G.; Cavallini, P. (2009). "Herpestidae (Mongooses)". In Wilson, D. E.; Mittermeier, R. A. (eds.). Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Vol. 1: Carnivores. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. pp. 262–328. ISBN 978-84-96553-49-1. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |last-author-amp= ignored (|name-list-style= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ De Luca, D. W.; Mpunga, N. E. (2005). Carnivores of Udzungwa Mountains: Presence, Distributions and Threats (PDF). Mbeya: Wildlife Conservation Society. p. 38. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-27. Retrieved 2009-10-29. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |last-author-amp= ignored (|name-list-style= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ De Luca, D. W.; Rovero, F. (2006). "First records in Tanzania of the Vulnerable Jackson's mongoose Bdeogale jacksoni (Herpestidae)". Oryx. 40 (4): 468–471. doi:10.1017/S0030605306001396. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |last-author-amp= ignored (|name-list-style= suggested) (help)

Further reading

  • Dücker, G. (1972). "Schleichkatzen und Erdwölfe". In Rudolf Altevogt; Renate Angermann; Heinrich Dathe; et al. (eds.). Grzimeks Tierleben: Enzyklopädie des Tierreichs. Band XII: Säugetiere 3. Zürich: Kindler-Verlag. pp. 144–185.
  • Honacki, J. H.; Kenneth E. Kinman; James W. Koeppl, eds. (1982). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Lawrence, Kansas: Allen Press/Association of Systematics Collections. p. 694. ISBN 0-942924-00-2.
  • Nowak, R. M.; John L. Paradiso (1983). Walker's Mammals of the World (4th ed.). Baltimore/London: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 1362. ISBN 0-8018-2525-3.
  • Pavlinov, I. Y. (2003). [Systematics of Contemporary Mammals]/Систематика современных млекопитающих. Moscow: Moscow State University. p. 297.
  • Schliemann, H. (1988). "Schleichkatzen". In Bernhard Grzimek (ed.). Grzimeks Enzyklopädie Säugetiere. Band 6. pp. 186–232.
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