NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 
Tue Water MuNGOOSE 
(Mungos paludinosus typicus) 
Syn.: Herpestes galera 
Also known as the Zwarte Muishond, Bruin Kommetje- 
gat-kat ; Ivusi of the Amaxosa. 
The Water Mungoose is common throughout 
South Africa, and extends north as far as the 
Equator. Unlike its South African cousins, it is an 
aquatic animal, and is never found far from water. 
The reeds and rushes on the margins of lakes, 
rivers, ponds, and marshes are its haunts. Although 
its feet are not webbed, it is an expert swimmer and 
diver, rivalling the otter in this respect. When 
hunted from its lair by dogs, it at once takes to the 
water, and is with difficulty caught. When hard 
pressed it often resorts to a clever and effective 
manceuvre to outwit its pursuers. Diving down 
amongst the water weeds, rushes or reeds, it keeps 
its body completely immersed, the tip of its nose 
only appearing above water. One evening about 
sundown on my estate in Natal I surprised a Water 
Mungoose in a pond which had formerly been a clay 
pit. There was no cover in the shape of rushes or 
water weeds, with the exception of a few isolated 
tufts of watergrass near the margin. After swim- 
ming about and diving repeatedly, the mungoose 
suddenly vanished. I carefully watched for several 
minutes, but it failed to appear. I sat down, de- 
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