We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Spatial ecology of white-tailed mongoose in farmland in the Ethiopian Highlands.
- Authors
Admasu, Ermias; Thirgood, Simon J.; Bekele, Afework; Laurenson, M. Karen
- Abstract
The spatial ecology of the white-tailed mongoose Ichneumia albicauda was studied during November 1998 to February 2000 on farmland adjacent to the Bale Mountains National Park in southern Ethiopia. Four male and one female white-tailed mongooses were captured and radiotagged. The average range size was 3.2 km2 for three adult males and 2.6 km2 for the female which is larger than previously recorded in savannah habitat. Asymptotic range size was reached at approximately 50 locations for the males and twenty locations for the female. The ranges of the three adult male mongooses overlapped on average only 2% whereas the single female range overlapped with two adjacent males by 81 and 25%, respectively. Twenty per cent of mongoose sightings were of groups that consisted of a male and female. Diurnal resting sites were found amongst rocks or in empty buildings. The mongooses foraged on grassy areas within woodland and bush during nocturnal activity periods. We conclude that white-tailed mongoose social organization in this agricultural landscape was similar to other solitary mongooses and was characterized by a mosaic of exclusive male ranges overlapping a separate mosaic of smaller female ranges.
- Subjects
ETHIOPIA; HABITATS; ICHNEUMON; SOCIAL structure; ECOLOGY; MONGOOSES
- Publication
African Journal of Ecology, 2004, Vol 42, Issue 2, p153
- ISSN
0141-6707
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1365-2028.2004.00498.x