---
title: "Egyptian Mongoose"
description: "Herpestes ichneumon — Mammals. The Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon), also known as ichneumon (), is a mongoose species native to the tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands of Africa and around the Mediterranean Basin in North Africa, the Middle East and the Iberian Peninsula."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/egyptian-mongoose
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Egyptian Mongoose

> Herpestes ichneumon — Mammals. The Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon), also known as ichneumon (), is a mongoose species native to the tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands of Africa and around the Mediterranean Basin in North Africa, the Middle East and the Iberian Peninsula.

- Scientific name: *Herpestes ichneumon*
- Category: `mammals` (Mammals)
- Habitats: `grassland` (Fields & meadows), `savanna` (Savanna)
- iNaturalist observations: 2122
- Wikidata: [Q649306](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q649306)
- iNaturalist taxon: [41900](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/41900)

## Names

- en: Egyptian Mongoose
- de: Ichneumon
- es: Meloncillo
- fr: Mangouste Ichneumon
- nl: Egyptische ichneumon
- pt: Sacarrabos
- pl: Mangusta egipska

## Countries with the most observations

PT (517), IL (287), ES (269), ZA (181), DZ (50), BJ (46), KE (35), MA (21), TZ (19), SN (13), TR (12), TD (11)

## Summary

The Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon), also known as ichneumon (), is a mongoose species native to the tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands of Africa and around the Mediterranean Basin in North Africa, the Middle East and the Iberian Peninsula. Whether it is introduced or native to the Iberian Peninsula is in some doubt. Because of its widespread occurrence, it is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_mongoose

## Photo

![Egyptian Mongoose](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/egyptian-mongoose/medium.jpg)

Photo: Wyman & Sons Limited · Public domain · commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lydekker_-_Egyptian_Mongoose.jpg

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/egyptian-mongoose?lang=en` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).