Banded Mongoose

Africa · teamwork · small predators

Live in colonies. Unlike most mongooses that live alone, banded mongooses stick together in groups called colonies. They work as a team to find food and protect their babies.

Beetle hunters. Banded mongooses are picky eaters who mostly hunt beetles and millipedes on the savanna. They use their sharp claws and sense of smell to dig them up from the soil.

Termite mound homes. Instead of building their own burrows, banded mongooses move into empty termite mounds to stay safe and cool. These ready-made homes have lots of tunnels perfect for escaping danger.

African grasslands. You can find banded mongooses across Africa, from the dry Sahel region all the way down to Southern Africa. They love living in savannas and open forests where they can spot enemies from far away.

Complex families. Banded mongoose colonies have a complex social structure, meaning the group has leaders and rules that keep everyone organized and working together successfully.