VERY INTERESTING: MONGOOSE

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Magnificent Facts About Mongooses

A mongoose is a small, dynamic mammal with a long body and short legs. Mongooses are famous for standing their ground against venomous snakes, both in literature and in real life, but they are also complex creatures with many other interesting quirks.

Here are a few things you may not know about mongooses.

1. The Plural Is 'Mongooses,' But It's OK to Say 'Mongeese'

Since English speakers are accustomed to the plural of "goose" being "geese," it might feel strange to say "mongooses" when referring to more than one mongoose. "Mongooses" is indeed the correct plural form, but "mongeese" is also recognized by some dictionaries as an alternative.

So why is "goose" in the word in the first place? The name of these animals may have come from mangus in Marathi and Tamil, mangisu in Telugu, or mungisi in Kanarese. The current English spelling is believed to have arisen from folk etymology, according to Etymology Online.

2. There Are About 30 Mongoose Species Around the World

Mongooses belong to the taxonomic family Herpestidae, which includes some 30 species across 20 genera. They are native to Africa, Asia, and southern Europe, but some species have also spread beyond their native range. They vary in size from the dwarf mongoose, which measures about 8 inches long and weighs less than a pound, to the white-tailed mongoose, which can grow up to 2.3 feet in length and weigh 9 pounds.

Mongooses are closely related to civets, genets, and euplerids. The latter is a group of carnivores from Madagascar that includes the cougar-like fossa.

3. They Have a Few Tricks for Defeating Venomous Snakes

Humans have long admired mongooses for their ability to kill venomous snakes, including cobras and adders. This trait was also famously dramatized by Rudyard Kipling in his 1894 short story "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi," in which the titular mongoose saves a human family from villainous cobras.

Mongooses are formidable opponents for snakes largely due to their speed and agility, which helps them avoid the reptiles' fangs and launch quick attacks when they sense an opening. But some species also have an extra advantage: They've evolved a resistance to neurotoxic snake venom, allowing them to keep fighting even after receiving a bite that would kill most animals their size. They are not immune to the venom, but thanks to special mutations in their nervous system, the neurotoxin has difficulty binding to their nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, rendering it less effective.1

4. They Have Diverse Diets

Mongooses are mainly carnivorous, but they are known to supplement their diets with plant matter. Despite their defenses against venomous snakes like cobras, they often target smaller, simpler animals as prey. Their diets may include insects, earthworms, crabs, rodents, birds, lizards, and snakes, as well as both bird and reptile eggs.

5. Some Species Are Semiaquatic

The marsh mongoose makes its living in swampy vegetation along rivers and lakes. Patrick Gijsbers / Getty Images

Mongooses have adapted to a wide array of habitats around the world, from deserts to tropical forests. They can even be semiaquatic, proving adept in the water as they hunt fish, crabs, and other aquatic prey. The marsh mongoose, for one, is reportedly an excellent swimmer that can dive for 15 seconds at a time while hunting.