Editing Mongoose (section)

{{short description|Family of mammals in Africa and Asia}}
{{about|the mongoose family Herpestidae|Malagasy mongooses|Galidiinae|other uses}}
{{pp-protected|small=yes}}
{{use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| name = Mongoose
| fossil_range = [[Early Miocene]] to [[present]], 21.8–0 [[Mya (unit)|Ma]]
| image = Mongoose_collection.png
| image_caption = Top left: [[Meerkat]]<br />Top right: [[Yellow mongoose]]<br />Bottom left: [[Slender mongoose]]<br />Bottom right: [[Indian gray mongoose]]
| taxon = Herpestidae
| authority = [[Charles Lucien Bonaparte|Bonaparte]], 1845
| type_genus = ''[[Herpestes]]''
| type_genus_authority = [[Johann Karl Wilhelm Illiger]], 1811
| subdivision_ref = <ref name=msw3>{{MSW3 Carnivora |id=14000477 |pages=562–571 |heading=Family Herpestidae}}</ref>
| subdivision_ranks = Genera
| subdivision = {{Collapsible list
|1=''[[Atilax]]''
|2=''[[Bdeogale]]''
|3=''[[Cynictis]]''
|4=''[[Galerella]]''
|5=''[[Herpestes]]''
|6=''[[Ichneumia]]''
|7=''[[Paracynictis]]''
|8=''[[Rhynchogale]]''
|9=''[[Crossarchus]]''
|10=''[[Dologale]]''
|11=''[[Helogale]]''
|12=''[[Liberiictus]]''
|13=''[[Mungos]]''
|14=''[[Suricata]]''}}
| synonyms_ref = <ref name=msw3/>
| synonyms = {{Collapsible list
|1=Rhinogalidae, Gray, 1869
|2=Suricatinae, Thomas, 1882
|3=Cynictidae, Cope, 1882
|4=Suricatidae, Cope, 1882
|5=Herpestoidei, Winge, 1895
|6=Mongotidae, Pocock, 1920}}
| range_map = Herpestidae.png
}}

A '''mongoose''' is a small terrestrial [[carnivorous]] [[mammal]] belonging to the [[Family (biology)|family]] '''Herpestidae'''. This family has two subfamilies, the '''Herpestinae''' and the '''Mungotinae'''. The Herpestinae comprises 23 living [[species]] that are native to [[southern Europe]], [[Africa]] and [[Asia]], whereas the Mungotinae comprises 11 species native to Africa. The Herpestidae originated about {{mya|21.8|error=3.6|round=2}} in the [[Early Miocene]] and [[Genetic divergence|genetically diverged]] into two main [[genetic lineage|lineages]] between 19.1 and {{mya|18.5|error=3.5|round=2}}. There is a large introduced population on the islands of [[Hawaii]]. Mongoose diets are varied but consist of mainly insects, hatchlings, reptiles and birds.