Systematics and Evolution of the Mongooses (Herpestidae, Carnivora)

The Herpestidae is an ecologically and behaviourally diverse family that comprises 25 African and 9 Asian mongoose species. They are slender, small carnivores (ranging from 200 g to 5 kg) that live in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia; one mongoose species is found in Europe and a few species have been introduced in many places in the world. The Herpestidae were initially included in the family Viverridae (civets, genets, and oyans), and previously contained the Malagasy 'mongooses' (subfamily Galidiinae). Molecular systematics and morphological studies have now confirmed that the 'true' mongooses should be placed in a separate family, the Herpestidae, and that the Malagasy 'mongooses' (together with the other Malagasy carnivores) be placed in the family Eupleridae. Recent molecular studies have shown that there are 2 subfamilies within the Herpestidae: the Mungotinae (11 small, social mongooses that occur in Africa) and the Herpestinae (23 larger, non-social mongooses that are found in Asia and Africa). In addition, the genus Herpestes has been shown to be paraphyletic; the nine Asian species of Herpestes form a monophyletic group and should now be placed in the genus Urva . Recent studies have inferred an Early Miocene African origin for the Herpestidae, and a Middle Miocene origin for the Asian mongooses. The evolution of life traits (social organization, activity, and habitat preferences) suggests that mongooses were originally non-social, diurnal, and diversified much more in Africa than in Asia. In this chapter, we review the recent changes in the inter-familial relationships of the Herpestidae and the Malagasy 'mongooses', provide an up-to-date phylogeny of the mongooses, describe the evolution of mongoose life traits, and present the latest systematic classification of the Asian mongooses, based on recent molecular studies.