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Dwarf Mongoose Helogale parvula
Südlicher Zwergichneumon / Dværgmangust
Facts: Vægt : Ca. 400 g
Sexual maturity: 3 years
Gestation period: 49-56 days
Number of litters a year: 3
Number of offspring per litter: 1-7
Habitat: Savannah
Food: Insects, small vertebrates, eggs and fruit
Life expectancy: Up to 8 years
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Dwarf mongooses live in packs that move from area to area within a territory depending on the food available. A pack can number to 40, but usually has 10-12 members.
Dwarf mongooses have unique social patterns compared those of other mammals.
The pack is led by one of the oldest females who has the first claim to the food. Her mate is the second-ranking member. They are the only breeding pair.
The other members of the pack do not come into heat and therefore do not have offspring. They form a hierarchy in which the youngest members are highly ranked.
As a result, they do not have to compete for food with the pack’s older and stronger mongooses.
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