Herpestes is a
genus within the
mongoosefamily Herpestidae. Several species in the family are known as slender mongooses. It is the
type genus of the family, and comprises 5-6 living
species, each with several
subspecies.
Fossil remains of three
prehistoric species were
excavated in
France, and described in 1853.
Characteristics
The living Herpestes species are
sexually dimorphic, with females smaller than males. They range in weight from 0.6 to 3.6 kg (1.3 to 7.9 lb).[2] They share several characteristics, including the shape of the
cheek teeth and of the
tympanic bullae, and the presence of the first upper
molar teeth. They are all
solitary.[3]
Males have one
chromosome less than females, as one
Y chromosome is translocated to an
autosome.[4]
Classification
The
scientific nameHerpestes was proposed by
Johann Karl Wilhelm Illiger in 1811 for mongoose species in the south of the
Old World, commonly called "Ichneumon" at the time.[5]
Until 1835, 12 mongoose species from Africa and Asia were classified as belonging to the genus Herpestes.[6]
In 1864,
John Edward Gray listed 22 Herpestes species, which he considered as part of the
Viverridae.[7]
In 1882,
Oldfield Thomas reviewed African mongoose
zoological specimens in
natural history museums. He subordinated those into the genus Herpestes that have nearly naked
soles, four
premolars, small last lower
molars with two external
cusps and whose last upper molars are 40-60% smaller than the last upper premolars. His list comprised eight species in Africa.[8]St. George Jackson Mivart listed 21 Herpestes species, including seven in Africa and 13 in Asia. He also determined Herpestes species by the
dentition of mongoose specimens. His criteria included small premolars, small inner cusps of the third upper premolars and transversely extended second upper molars with rather concave posterior margins; their bodies are long with long tails, short legs and five
digits to each paw.[9]Wallace Christopher Wozencraft recognised 10 Herpestes species as valid in 2005.[1]
Phylogenetic analysis of African and Asian mongoose specimens revealed that they belong to three distinct
genetic lineages; the two African lineages
diverged in the
Early Miocene around 19.1 million years ago and 18.5 million years ago, and the Asian
Urva lineage at around 17.4 million years ago. The following African mongooses are now placed in the genus Herpestes:[12]
^Taylor, M.E. & Matheson, J. (1999). "A craniometric comparison of the African and Asian mongooses in the genus Herpestes (Carnivora: Herpestidae)". Mammalia. 63 (4): 449–464.
doi:
10.1515/mamm.1999.63.4.449.
S2CID84384697.
^
abRüppell, E. (1835).
"Herpestes. Illiger". Neue Wirbelthiere zu der Fauna von Abyssinien gehörig [New vertebrates belonging to the Fauna of Abyssinia] (in German). Frankfurt am Main: S. Schmerber. pp. 27–32.
^Pomel, A. (1853).
"Herpestes. Illig.". Catalogue méthodique et descriptif des vertébrés fossiles découverts dans le bassin hydrographique de la Loire. Paris: Baillière. pp. 64–66.
^Lydekker, R. (1887).
"Herpestes lemanensis, Pomel". Catalogue of the fossil Mammalia in the British museum, (Natural History). Vol. 5, Supplement. London: British Museum (Natural History). p. 317.
^Linnaeus, C. (1758).
"Viverra ichneumon". Caroli Linnæi Systema naturæ per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis (in Latin). Vol. Tomus I (decima, reformata ed.). Holmiae: Laurentius Salvius. p. 41.