Crossarchus

Crossarchus is a mongoose genus, commonly referred to as kusimanse, often cusimanse,^[1][2] mangue, or dwarf mongoose. They are placed in the subfamily Mungotinae,^[3] which are small, highly social mongooses.^[1]

Crossarchus
Common kusimanse (C. obscurus)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Suborder:	Feliformia
Family:	Herpestidae
Subfamily:	Mungotinae
Genus:	Crossarchus Cuvier, 1825
Type species
Crossarchus obscurus Cuvier, 1825
Species
Crossarchus alexandri Crossarchus ansorgei Crossarchus obscurus Crossarchus platycephalus
Ranges of the four Crossarchus species   C. obscurus   C. platycephalus   C. alexandri   C. ansorgei

Range and habitat

Members of this genus are found in the swamplands and forests of central and western Africa, in the countries of Ghana,^[1] Ivory Coast, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.^[4]

Species

Image	Scientific name	Common Name	Distribution
	Crossarchus alexandri	Alexander's kusimanse	Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda
	Crossarchus ansorgei	Angolan kusimanse	Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola
	Crossarchus obscurus	Common kusimanse	Ghana, Ivory Coast, Benin, Liberia, and Sierra Leone
	Crossarchus platycephalus	Flat-headed kusimanse	Benin, Cameroon and Nigeria

Diet

They feed on insects, larvae, small reptiles, crabs and berries. They use their claws and snouts for digging in leaf litter, under rotted trees and stones for the insects and larvae. They will also wade into shallow streams looking for freshwater crabs.

In most areas where members of Crossarchus live, they are the numerically dominant members of the forest carnivore community.^[2]

Reproduction

Females are polyestrous and if not mated will come into heat nine times in a year. Litters range from 2-3 per year. The young can open their eyes in about twelve days, eating solid food in three weeks and have adult hair in five weeks.

Behavior

Crossarchus live in groups of 10 to 24. One to three families live in a group. The families are made up of the mating pair and the young. They are diurnal, and will wander throughout their territories constantly, never staying in one place too long. In their wanderings they will create temporary shelters for themselves. As they do not occupy permanent den sites, the young are not able to keep up with the group for several weeks and must be carried to different foraging spots. Individuals in the group take turns carrying the young from place to place and also help feed them.^[1]

Since the sociable kusimanses do not live in open habitat, they maintain contact in the dense rainforest understory by giving constant whistling calls while traveling.^[1]

Local names

They are known in French as Mangouste brune and in German as Dunkelkusimanse.^{[citation needed]}

References

1. Dunham, Amy E. (2003–2004). "Mongooses and Fossa (Herpestidae)". In Hutchins, Michael; et al. (eds.). Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia (2nd ed.). Detroit: Gale. p. 347. ISBN 0787653624.
2. Ray, J. C. (2001). "Carnivore Biogeography and Conservation in the African Forest: A Community Perspective". In William Weber (ed.). African Rain Forest Ecology and Conservation: An Interdisciplinary Perspective. New Haven: Yale University Press. p. 223. ISBN 0300084331.
3. Veron, G. (2010). "Phylogeny of the Viverridae and 'Viverrid-like' Feliforms". In Anjali Goswami; Anthony Friscia (eds.). Carnivoran Evolution: New Views on Phylogeny, Form, and Function. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 70. ISBN 9780521515290.
4. Olson, Annette Lynn (2001). The Behavior and Ecology of the Long-Nosed Mongoose, Crossarchus obscurus (PhD dissertation). Coral Gables: University of Miami.