One of Madagascar’s most unusual and elegant carnivores, belonging to the island’s unique family of predators known as euplerids. Endemic to the dry deciduous forests of western Madagascar, it stands out for its sleek body, fine striping, and unusual social structure that makes it very different from its mongoose relatives in Africa.

Physically, the narrow-striped mongoose is slender and graceful, with a long bushy tail. Its coat is short and reddish-brown, decorated with ten narrow dark stripes running lengthwise down its back—the feature that gives it its name. Its face is pointed with alert, dark eyes, giving it a fox-like appearance.

In terms of behavior, the narrow-striped mongoose is a diurnal hunter, active during the day when it forages mainly for insects, small reptiles, amphibians, and occasionally bird eggs. It has strong claws for digging and is particularly skilled at prying into rotten logs or leaf litter to extract prey. Unlike many mongooses that are strictly carnivorous, this species occasionally supplements its diet with fruit, showing how versatile Madagascar’s carnivores have had to become in their island environment.

What really makes this mongoose remarkable, however, is its social organization. While most mongooses live in large, cooperative packs, the narrow-striped mongoose is unusual in that it forms small, female-centered groups. A single dominant female leads a group of related females and their offspring, while males live more solitary lives, joining groups only during the breeding season. This matriarchal system is rare among small carnivores and has fascinated researchers studying social evolution.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Madagascar

8,400-12,000

Official estimate

EN

2015