Circadian Activity Patterns of Free-Ranging Large Gray Mongooses, Herpestes ichneumon, in Southwestern Spain

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Abstract
Activity of female large gray mongooses, Herpestes ichneumon, was studied and related to daily cycle of light and darkness, temperature and age, in southwestern Spain. Female mongooses were diurnal. Activity was detected in 79% of 301 bearings during daylight, but only in 10% of 236 bearings at night (n = 4). Activity was higher at 1400 h. Average daily activity started 119 min after sunrise (SD = 44, n = 29, range = 21–195), ended 65 min before sunset (SD = 60, n = 27, range = 191 min before and 27 min after sunset), and lasted for 357 min (SD = 76, n = 28, range = 195–500). Only sunrise affected activity onset significantly(b′ = 0.850; P = 0.0071), and only total activity time and activity onset influenced the end of activity significantly (b′ = 0.008 and 0.172 respectively; P < 0.04). An adult female spent less time in activity, starting later and ending earlier than a young female (P < 0.032). Resting was divided into a continuous longer nocturnal period, and several shorter periods that interrupted activity during the day. Mongoose daily activity time coincided with resting time of its staple prey.

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