The Yellow Mongoose (Cynictis penicillata) is a mammal in the Herpestidae family. It is also known as the Red Meerkat.
It is mainly diurnal, active during the day. Diurnal animals usually have round pupils, like the eyes of humans.
Nocturnal animals, that are active at night, usually have larger eyes with slitted pupils.
The eyes of the Mongoose are orange-brown and small, with an elongated horizontal pupil.
The Yellow Mongoose has a long body with rough yellowish fur, and a bushy tail. It has a pointy nose and small ears. It has long, strong claws that dig through soil. Its claws do not retract, and therefore they are always visible.
It grows to about 50 centimetres (20 inches) in length, with a 15-30 centimetre (6-12 inch) long tail.
The Yellow Mongoose is native to southern Africa, in countries such as Angola, Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. It prefers open country, semi-desert scrublands, and grasslands.
It lives in a burrow underground, called a den or a warren. The den has a tunnel system with many entrances.
Location: Paris Zoo, France
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM