Social organization of a solitary carnivore: spatial behaviour, interactions and relatedness in the slender mongoose

Author:

Graw Beke12ORCID,Kranstauber Bart12,Manser Marta B.123

Affiliation:

1. Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland

2. Kalahari Research Centre, Kuruman River Reserve, Van Zylsrus, Northern Cape, South Africa

3. Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa

Abstract

The majority of carnivore species are described as solitary, but little is known about their social organization and interactions with conspecifics. We investigated the spatial organization and social interactions as well as relatedness of slender mongooses ( Galerella sanguinea ) living in the southern Kalahari. This is a little studied small carnivore previously described as solitary with anecdotal evidence for male associations. In our study population, mongooses arranged in spatial groups consisting of one to three males and up to four females. Male ranges, based on sleeping sites, were large and overlapping, encompassing the smaller and more exclusive female ranges. Spatial groups could be distinguished by their behaviour, communal denning and home range. Within spatial groups animals communally denned in up to 33% of nights, mainly during winter months, presumably to gain thermoregulatory benefits. Associations of related males gained reproductive benefits likely through increased territorial and female defence. Our study supports slender mongooses to be better described as solitary foragers living in a complex system of spatial groups with amicable social interactions between specific individuals. We suggest that the recognition of underlying ‘hidden' complexities in these apparently ‘solitary' organizations needs to be accounted for when investigating group living and social behaviour.

Funder

Universität Zürich

Publisher

The Royal Society

Subject

Multidisciplinary

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