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Herpestidae (mongoose)

Mammalia - Carnivora - Herpestidae

Synonymy list
YearName and author
1845Herpestinae Bonaparte
1882Herpestinae Mivart p. 142
1911Herpestidae Jaekel p. 228
1965Herpestinae Savage p. 296
1972Herpestinae Taylor p. 1
1974Herpestinae Hendey p. 83
1989Herpestidae Hunt, Jr. p. 28
1991Herpestidae Nowak
1992Herpestidae Baker p. 1
1998Herpestidae Hunt, Jr. p. 62
2007Herpestidae Morlo et al. p. 151
2021Herpestidae Hassanin et al.

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
—Bilateria
—EubilateriaAx 1987
—Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
—Eugnathostomata
—Teleostomi(Bonaparte 1836)
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
—Tetrapoda
—Reptiliomorpha
—Anthracosauria
subclassAmphibiosauriaKuhn 1967
—Cotylosauria()
—Amniota
subclassSynapsida
—Therapsida()
infraorderCynodontia()
RankNameAuthor
—Mammaliamorpha
—Mammaliaformes
classMammalia
—Cladotheria
—Zatheria
subclassTribosphenida()
subclassTheria
—Eutheria()
—Placentalia
—Boreoeutheria
—Laurasiatheria
—Scrotifera
—Ferae()
—CarnivoramorphaWyss and Flynn 1993
—CarnivoraformesFlynn et al.
orderCarnivora
suborderFeliformiaKretzoi 1945
—AeluroideaFlower 1869
infraorderViverroideaGray 1821
familyHerpestidae(Bonaparte 1845)
familyHerpestidae(Bonaparte 1845)

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

Fm. †Herpestidae Bonaparte 1845 [mongoose]
show all | hide all
G. Bdeogale Peters 1850
+
Bdeogale crassicauda Peters 1852 [bushy-tailed mongoose]
Bdeogale nigripes Pucheran 1855 [black-footed mongoose]
G. Crossarchus Cuvier 1825 [dwarf mongoose]
+
Crossarchus alexandri Thomas and Wroughton 1907 [Alexander's Kusimanse]
Crossarchus ansorgei Thomas 1910 [Angolan kusimanse]
Crossarchus gothneli Fitzinger 1899
Crossarchus obscurus Cuvier 1825 [common kusimanse]
Crossarchus platycephalus Goldman 1984 [Flat-headed kusimanse]
Crossarchus zebra Rüppell 1835
G. Cynictis Ogilby 1833 [yellow mongoose]
+
Cynictis penicillata Cuvier 1829 [yellow mongoose]
G. Dologale Thomas 1920
G. Galerella Gray 1864 [slender mongoose]
+
Galerella nigrata Thomas 1928 [Black mongoose]
Galerella ochracea Gray 1849 [Somalian slender mongoose]
+
Galerella ochracea bocagei Thomas and Wroughton 1905
Galerella pulverulenta Wagner 1839 [Cape grey mongoose]
G. Helogale Gray 1861 [dwarf mongoose]
+
Helogale hirtula Thomas 1904 [Ethiopian dwarf mongoose]
Helogale parvula Sundevall 1847 [common dwarf mongoose]
+
Invalid names: Herpestes undulatus Peters 1852 [synonym]
G. Herpestes Illliger 1811
+
†Herpestes abdelalii Geraads 1997
Herpestes brachyurus Gray 1837 [Short-tailed mongoose]
Herpestes edwardsii Geoffroy 1881 [Indian gray mongoose]
Herpestes fuscus Waterhouse 1838 [brown mongoose]
Herpestes gracilis Rüppell 1835
+
Invalid names: Herpestes thysanurus Wagner 1839 [synonym]
Herpestes ichneumon Linnaeus 1758 [Egyptian mongoose]
Herpestes javanicus Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire 1818 [Javan mongoose]
Herpestes naso de Winton 1901 [long-nosed mongoose]
Herpestes sanguineus Rüppell 1835 [slender mongoose]
+
Invalid names: Mungos dentifer Heller 1913 [synonym]
Herpestes semitorquatus Gray 1846 [collard mongoose]
Herpestes smithii Gray 1837 [ruddy mongoose]
+
+
Invalid names: Herpestes monticolus Jerdon 1867 [objective synonym]
Invalid names: Herpestes ellioti Blyth 1851 [synonym], Herpestes rubiginosus Kelaart 1852 [synonym], Herpestes torquatus Jerdon 1867 [synonym]
Herpestes urva Hodgson 1836 [crab-eating mongoose]
+
Invalid names: Urva hanensis Matschie 1908 [synonym]
Herpestes vitticollis Bennett 1835 [stripe necked mongoose]
+
Invalid names: Crossarchus rubiginosus Wagner 1841 [synonym]
Invalid names: Calictis Gray 1864 [synonym], Calogale Gray 1864 [synonym], Onychogale Gray 1864 [synonym], Taeniogale Gray 1864 [synonym], Urva Hodgson 1837 [synonym]
Subfm. Herpestinae Bonaparte 1845
+
G. Atilax Cuvier 1826 [marsh mongoose]
+
Atilax paludinosus Cuvier 1829 [marsh mongoose]
G. Ichneumia Geoffroy 1837
+
Ichneumia albicauda Cuvier 1829 [white-tailed mongoose]
+
†Ichneumia nims Geraads 1997
Invalid names: Herpestes Cuvier 1829 [replaced]
G. †Legetetia Schmidt-Kittler 1987
+
†Legetetia nandii Schmidt-Kittler 1987
G. Liberiictis Hayman 1958
+
Liberiictis kuhni Hayman 1958 [Liberian mongoose]
G. Mungos Geoffroy Saint Hilaire and Cuvier 1795
+
Mungos gambianus Ogilby 1835 [Gambian mongoose]
Mungos mungo Gmelin 1788 [banded mongoose]
+
Invalid names: Crossarchus fasciatus Desmarest 1823 [synonym]
Invalid names: Ariela Gray 1864 [synonym]
G. †Paracynictis Pocock 1916
+
†Paracynictis selousi de Winton 1896
G. Rhynchogale Thomas 1894
+
Rhynchogale melleri Gray 1864 [Meller's mongoose]
Invalid names: Rhinogale Gray 1865 [replaced]
G. Suricata Desmarest 1804 [meerkat]
+
Suricata suricatta Schreber 1776 [meerkat]
Invalid names: Ryzaena Illiger 1811 [synonym]
G. †Ugandictis Morales et al. 2007
+
†Ugandictis napakensis Morales et al. 2007
G. Xenogale Allen 1919
+
Xenogale microdon Allen 1919
Diagnosis
No diagnoses are available
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: phosphaticsubp
Environment: terrestrialsubc
Locomotion: actively mobilep
Life habit: ground dwellingf
Diet: insectivoref
Diet 2: carnivoref
Reproduction: viviparoussubc
Created: 2005-06-08 10:11:09
Modified: 2005-08-22 19:45:22
Source: f = family, subc = subclass, subp = subphylum, p = phylum
References: Carroll 1988, Nowak 1991, Kiessling 2004, Ji et al. 2002, Lillegraven 1979

Age range

Maximum range based only on fossils: base of the MN 4 to the top of the Holocene or 16.90000 to 0.00000 Ma
Minimum age of oldest fossil (stem group age): 15.98 Ma

Collections (101 total)


Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Burdigalian20.45 - 15.98Serbia (Serbia) Herpestes aurelianensis (39714)
Burdigalian20.45 - 15.98Kenya Ugandictis napakensis (21726)
Burdigalian20.45 - 15.98Uganda Ugandictis napakensis (28441)
MN 416.9 - 15.98France (Centre) Herpestes aurelianensis (69116)
MN 7 + 812.75 - 11.1Switzerland (Baselland) Herpestes filholi (49421)
Vallesian11.63 - 8.725China (shaanxi) Viverridae indet. (42254)
Tortonian11.63 - 7.246Kenya Cynictis sp., Ichneumia sp., Galerella sp. (219711)
Tortonian - Zanclean11.63 - 3.6Ethiopia Helogale kitafe, Herpestes indet. (22139)
Messinian7.246 - 5.333Chad Galerella sanguinea (59839)
Messinian7.246 - 5.333Kenya Atilax sp. (22274) Ichneumia sp. (22275)
Messinian - Piacenzian7.246 - 2.58South Africa (Cape) Herpestes sp., Herpestinae indet. (59167)
Early/Lower Pliocene5.333 - 3.6Kenya Herpestidae indet. (230936)
Zanclean5.333 - 3.6Ethiopia Helogale kitafe (22160)
Zanclean5.333 - 3.6South Africa Herpestes sp., Herpestinae indet. (22222) Herpestinae indet. (22221)
Pliocene5.333 - 2.58South Africa Helogale sp. (22339)
Pliocene5.333 - 2.58Tanzania (Eastern Drift Valley) Helogale palaeogracilis, Herpestes palaeoserengetensis, Mungos dietrichi, Herpestes ichneumon (32050)
Late/Upper Pliocene3.6 - 2.58South Africa Cynictis penicillata (22340)
Late/Upper Pliocene3.6 - 2.58South Africa (Langebaanweg) Herpestes sp. (21713)
Late/Upper Pliocene3.6 - 2.58Morocco Herpestes abdelalii (32052) Herpestes abdelalii, Ichneumia nims (32054)
Late/Upper Pliocene - Piacenzian3.6 - 2.58Ethiopia Helogale kitafe (21546)
Piacenzian3.6 - 2.58Ethiopia Herpestes sp. (21762) Herpestes sp., Galerella sp. (21783)
Piacenzian3.6 - 2.58Tanzania Mungos dietrichi (21797)
Late/Upper Pliocene - Pleistocene3.6 - 0.0117South Africa Crossarchus transvaalensis, Herpestes mesotes (22334) Herpestes sp. (22330 22332)
Gelasian2.58 - 1.8Tanzania Cynictis sp., Mungos dietrichi (21804) Helogale palaeogracilis, Herpestes palaeoserengetensis, Herpestes ichneumon (21816) Herpestes sp. (22594)
Gelasian2.58 - 1.8Kenya (Rift Valley) Mungos dietrichi (21280)
Gelasian2.58 - 1.8Ethiopia Helogale hirtula (21545 21625 21681) Helogale kitafe (21632)
Early/Lower Pleistocene2.58 - 0.774South Africa Atilax mesotes, Mungos sp. (95150) Herpestes ichneumon (21824)
Early/Lower Pleistocene2.58 - 0.774South Africa (Gauteng) Cynictis pencillata, Suricata suricatta (183152)
Pleistocene2.58 - 0.0117South Africa Atilax sp., Herpestidae indet., Suricata suricatta, Cynictis penicillata (21828) Atilax sp., Suricata suricatta, Cynictis penicillata, Herpestes sanguineus (21825) Galerella pulverulenta (115191) Herpestes ichneumon, Atilax paludinosus (21931) Herpestes ichneumon, Atilax paludinosus, Herpestes pulverulentus (21695 21916) Herpestes ichneumon, Atilax paludinosus, Suricata suricatta, Cynictis penicillata (21956) Herpestes ichneumon, Galerella pulverulenta (21929) Herpestes pulverulentus (21953) Suricata suricatta (21829)
Pleistocene2.58 - 0.0117Libya Herpestes ichneumon (21863 21864)
Pleistocene2.58 - 0.0117South Africa (Orange Free) Cynictis penicillata (21867)
Pleistocene2.58 - 0.0117Kenya Ichneumia albicauda (21963) Mungos sp., Herpestes ichneumon (38039)
Pleistocene2.58 - 0.0117Australia (New South Wales) Onychogale sp. (96015)
Pleistocene - Holocene2.58 - 0.0South Africa (Orange Free) Cynictis penicillata (21868)
Pleistocene - Holocene2.58 - 0.0South Africa Galerella pulverulenta (21952) Herpestes ichneumon, Atilax paludinosus, Herpestes pulverulentus (21951) Herpestes ichneumon, Herpestes pulverulentus (21948) Herpestes pulverulentus (21949 21950) Suricata sp. (21711)
Pleistocene - Holocene2.58 - 0.0Congo-Kinshasa Atilax paludinosus (22074)
Pleistocene - Holocene2.58 - 0.0Eswatini Herpestes sanguineus (21925)
Pleistocene - Holocene2.58 - 0.0Zambia Mungos mungo, Herpestes ichneumon (21924)
Middle Pleistocene - Late/Upper Pleistocene0.774 - 0.0117Kenya Ichneumia albicauda (21276 21277) Ichneumia sp. (22272)
Middle Pleistocene - Late/Upper Pleistocene0.774 - 0.0117Tanzania Herpestes sanguineus (21893)
Middle Pleistocene - Late/Upper Pleistocene0.774 - 0.0117China (Guangdong) Herpestes urva (13293)
Late/Upper Pleistocene (high glacial)0.129 - 0.0117China (Hubei) Herpestes urva (92787)
Late/Upper Pleistocene (interglacial)0.129 - 0.0117South Africa Herpestes pulverulentus (115167)
Late/Upper Pleistocene0.129 - 0.0117Kenya (Athi-Kapiti) Herpestes sp. (32119)
Late/Upper Pleistocene0.129 - 0.0117South Africa Herpestes ichneumon, Herpestes pulverulentus (96974) Herpestes sp. (90070) Suricata suricatta (115184)
Late/Upper Pleistocene0.129 - 0.0117South Africa (Namaqualand) Suricata suricatta (51187)
Late/Upper Pleistocene - Holocene0.129 - 0.0South Africa Herpestes ichneumon, Herpestes pulverulentus (21922)
Holocene0.0117 - 0.0South Africa Atilax paludinosus (21862) Cynictis penicillata (21866 21940 21946) Herpestes ichneumon, Atilax paludinosus, Herpestes pulverulentus (96973) Herpestes pulverulentus (21930)
Holocene0.0117 - 0.0South Africa (Orange Free) Atilax paludinosus, Cynictis penicillata (21944) Cynictis penicillata (21908 21909 21911 21943) Herpestes ichneumon, Cynictis penicillata (21861 21912)
Holocene0.0117 - 0.0Niger Herpestidae indet. (83305)
Holocene0.0117 - 0.0Tanzania Mungos mungo, Ichneumia albicauda (21690)
Holocene0.0117 - 0.0South Africa (N. Transraal) Mungos mungo, Atilax paludinosus, Cynictis penicillata, Herpestes sanguineus, Ichneumia albicauda, Paracynictis selousi (21693)
Holocene0.0117 - 0.0Sudan Herpestes sanguineus (21903 208787) Herpestinae indet., Mungos mungo (208786)
Holocene0.0117 - 0.0Zambia Herpestes sanguineus (21894 21895)
Holocene0.0117 - 0.0Congo-Kinshasa Bdeogale pardus, Crossarchus alexandri (22073)