IUCN status: Least Concern
Helogale parvula
The dwarf mongoose is the smallest member of the mongoose family and a true pocket-sized predator! These highly social creatures live in tight-knit groups led by a dominant female. Despite their tiny size, dwarf mongooses are brave, curious, and fiercely protective of their families. They spend their days foraging for insects, basking in the sun, and keeping watch from elevated lookout points, often using old termite mounds as both home and fortress. With their sharp eyes, agile movements, and strong group bonds, dwarf mongooses are a fascinating glimpse into the world of cooperative survival in the wild.
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Lifespan: Up to 18 years
Weight: Up to 350g
Length: Up to 30cm
Diet: Carnivore
Did you know?: The dwarf mongoose is the smallest African carnivore.
Diet
Banded mongooses are carnivores. Their diet mainly consists of insects, but they will also eat spiders, scorpions, small vertebrates, eggs and fallen fruits.
Habitat
Dwarf mongooses are found in savannah, woodlands and mountainous scrub from Somalia and Ethiopia to eastern South Africa and Namibia.
Threats
Human conflict is the main threat to the dwarf mongoose. They are often persecuted as pests because of their fondness for stealing eggs in areas in close proximity to human habitation.
Conservation
These animals are not candidates for future rewilding. Sign up to our newsletter to keep up to date with all our news and events.
