Mongoose

carnivore · speedy hunter · Africa

Seriously quick reflexes. Mongooses are small carnivorous mammals with super-fast reflexes that help them catch and eat insects, reptiles, and birds. They're built for speed and precision when hunting.

Found across three continents. Mongooses come from Africa, Asia, and southern Europe. The family split into two groups millions of years ago, with one group living mainly in Africa and the other spread across Africa and Asia.

Eats lots of different prey. A mongoose's diet changes based on what's available in its habitat, but it mainly hunts insects, small reptiles, bird hatchlings, and other small creatures.

Ancient family tree. Mongooses have been around for about 22 million years, dating back to the Early Miocene period. Their family split into two main branches between 19 and 18 million years ago.

Spread to faraway islands. People brought mongooses to the Hawaiian Islands, where a large population now lives. This happened long after mongooses naturally evolved in Africa, Asia, and Europe.