Somali Dwarf Mongoose
Helogale hirtula
- Class
- Mammal
- Rarity
- Common
- Observations
- 52
- Most observed in
- 🇰🇪 Kenya
- Conservation
- Least Concern
Description
The Ethiopian dwarf mongoose (Helogale hirtula), also known as the desert dwarf mongoose or Somali dwarf mongoose, is a mongoose native to East Africa, particularly Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia. The Ethiopian dwarf mongoose sends out warning calls to its family if a predator is detected. It also produces general alarm calls when danger is not present. These calls have different pitches which indicate different levels of urgency for the family, could convey the predator's species, distance and elevation to the family all through alarm calls.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article “Ethiopian dwarf mongoose”.