any of numerous species of small, bold, predatory carnivores found mainly in Africa but also in southern Asia and southern Europe. Mongooses are noted for their audacious attacks on highly poisonous snakes such as king cobras. The 37 species belong to 18 genera. The most common and probably best-known are the 10 species of the genus Herpestes, among which are the Egyptian mongoose, or ichneumon (H. ichneumon), of Africa and southern Europe and the Indian gray mongoose (H. edwardsii), made famous as Rikki-tikki-tavi in Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Books (1894 and 1895). The meerkat (Suricata suricata) is also a member of the mongoose family.

Mongooses live in burrows and feed on small mammals, birds, reptiles, eggs, and occasionally fruit. A number of mongooses, including those of the genus Herpestes, will attack and kill poisonous snakes. They depend on speed and agility, darting at the head of the snake and cracking the skull with a powerful bite. They are not immune to venom, as popularly believed, nor do they seek and eat an herbal remedy if bitten. A number of species are noted for their peculiar habit of opening eggs as well as other food items with hard shells (crabs, mollusks, nuts). The animal stands on its hind legs and hits the egg against the ground. Sometimes it carries the egg to a rock and, standing with its back to the rock, throws the egg between its legs and against the rock until the shell is broken. Early reports of this behaviour met with skepticism but have been verified by other observers. The Madagascar narrow-striped mongoose (Mungotictis decemlineata) exhibits the same behaviour but lies on its side and uses all four feet to toss the egg.

37 species in 18 genera belonging to 2 subfamilies of Africa, Madagascar, southern Asia, and southern Europe.