Somali dwarf mongoose
Holegale hirtula
Key identification features
A very small mongoose with short legs, small ears and eyes and a short tail. It has a short snout and a round head with slightly infantile features. It has a greyish colour with more yellowish reddish under parts and dark brown feet. HB 20-27 cm. Wt 220-330 g estimated.
Habitat and social behaviour
It is a social and diurnal mongoose that lives in savanna or savanna woodland. It is thought to occur in the north-east corner of Tanzania.
Similar species
The dwarf mongoose has the same size, shape, overlapping habitat and is also diurnal and social. It has a shorter fur and it is more uniformly coloured with a colour ranging from a yellowish, reddish to greyish brown and sometimes even black.