one of the socially living representatives of the Mungos finds in the 25-35 cm long one we, with one until tail long to 25 cm equipped, dun until hoar Erdmännchen. 8-10 brownish cross-bandages, that run over the back, adorn its rough fur additionally. The virtually white head finishes in a trunk-good muzzle. The active eyes are surrounded from a dark ring; the ears and the tail-end are black.
Way of life Erdmännchen very frequently live together in a big construction in bigger communities with Erdhörnchen and Fuchsmangusten. The Erdmännchen also like the Fuchsmangusten like to leave the main-grave-work to the Erdhörnchen despite its big, powerful claws at the front-toes.
Nutrition The Erdmännchen got the name "Scharrtier" on the basis of its quality, during the food-search, that takes place only during the day and in immediate surroundings of the building site, to constantly scratch at the ground after Freßbarem. This Scharrtrieb is caused by the sense of smell and is interrupted sooner, is exposed completely until the tracked down loot. The Erdmännchen live in the most important thing of insects, spiders and Tausendfüßern, however, also rats, mice, reptiles as well as birds and their eggs take. Since they go its cave in immediate proximity at forage, the feed becomes here scarce soon so that they are forced after a certain time to give up its construction and to establish a new one in some distance. Erdmännchen are despite its very sociable nature extraordinarily eat-envious and always strive after removing an Artgenossen the carried off scrap.
Social-lives In its constructions, in which they retreat after sunset, the animals are enclosed narrowly to several - and one on the other. One with day sees lie itself before the entrance-tubes sunbathing it in such "lumps." Always, one can also individual animals as it were upright sedentary at this opportunity on its rear-clubs adoring" the "sun, sees. Notice one of them an enemy, a vulture for example, one can stretch highly on its four rear-toes and makes myself so long how possible in order to observe the surroundings aware. The tail serves as support on that occasion. If the danger becomes too big, they discharge a shrill alarm-scream and vanish in the holes.
In defense-position of aggressors, these Sneak cats lie down on the back and wise claws and teeth against the opponent. The Erdmännchen threaten during an attack in turn with a cat-back, vertical jumps and loud Keckern.
Reproduction The whole year over usually bears the females 4 young, that are suckled approximately 6 weeks, after approximately 11 weeks of Tragzeit. The sexually mature steps with approximately 1 years one.
Endangering No immediate threat, there is for the Erdmännchen through the human being.
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