Ichneumia albicauda | UAE National Red List of Mammals: Marine and Terrestrial

Taxa
Ichneumia albicauda | (G. Cuvier, 1829)
Location
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Scope (Assessment)
National
Taxon
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Mammals
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxonomic Notes
This species is occasionally mistaken with Meller's Mongoose (Rhynchogale melleri), which also sometimes has a white tail. However, the White-tailed Mongoose is usually larger, and its body appears black, rather than brown (Skinner and Chimimba 2005). Further confusion in identification is sometimes created by the fact that Ichneumia albicauda individuals with black tails have been recorded in several areas of the African distribution range (A. Page pers. comm. 2014, C. Wright pers. comm. 2014). Only one subspecies has been listed, from southern Africa, I. a. grandis (Thomas 1890), but the nominate form has a wide distribution across much of the rest of Africa (Meester et al. 1986).
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
The White-tailed Mongoose occurs in the north of the UAE mainly in the mountains but also known from some sites in the plains (Jongbloed et al. 2001, Aspinall et al. 2005, Fernandes 2011). It has been recorded from Wadi Shawkah and other sites in Ras Al Khaimah; Wadi Siji in Fujairah; it was seen in Wadi Wurayah in the late 1990s (J. Budd pers. comm. 2018), but has not been recorded there in recent camera trap surveys; and Wadi Helo and Wadi Hefiyah in Sharjah. Outside the mountains, it has been recorded at Al Ain, Al Dhaid (where two were caught in 2015) and Masafi. It was listed as Extinct in the Wild in Abu Dhabi (Drew and Tourenq 2005). The species is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal and Gambia to the Horn of Africa, and then southwards to South Africa (Do Linh San 2015). In the Arabian Peninsula, it occurs in Oman. Yemen and Saudi Arabia, in addition to UAE (Mallon and Budd 2011). The species occurs in the Hajar Mountains in Oman (Harrison and Bates 1991).
Habitats and Ecology
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
Prefers mountain wadis and is normally found near permanent water; it avoids open desert. It is mainly nocturnal and preys on reptiles, small mammals, insects, birds and their eggs and carrion, and has adapted to living in close proximity to humans (Aspinall et al. 2005).
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Endangered
Assessment status abreviation
EN
Assessment status criteria
D
Assessment rationale/justification
The White-tailed Mongoose occurs in the north of the UAE mainly in the mountains but is also known from some sites in the plains. The lack of recent sightings makes it difficult to determine the population size, but it is estimated that there are fewer than 250 mature individuals and hence it is assessed as Endangered (EN) under criterion D. Any potential rescue effect is thought to be insignificant.
About the assessment
Assessment year
2018
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
IUCN. 2012. IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1, Second edition. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. iv + 32pp pp. And IUCN. 2012. Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional and National Levels: Version 4.0. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: IUCN. iii + 41pp.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
May be subject to persecution by poultry farmers. Habitat in the Hajar Mountains is being lost, degraded and fragmented by quarrying, road building, and residential and tourism development. As the presence of the species appears to be linked to permanent water, the disappearance of freshwater habitats and decreasing water tables in wadis due to over-abstraction might be a potential threat. Red Foxes are increasing their range in the mountains and may be a competitor or predator.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Further information
History
The population is suspected to have declined due to habitat loss and degradation, fragmentation, and competition with increasing populations of Vulpes vulpes. Whilst it was assessed as Endangered by Hornby (1996), we consider it likely that there were >250 individuals in 1996, and so back-cast the category to Vulnerable (VU D1).
Scientific Name Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus
Ichneumia albicauda Animalia Chordata Mammalia Carnivora Herpestidae Ichneumia