ZooTrophy Animal-a-Day Database: mongoose

About the Project

The ZooTrophy Animal-a-Day project began on October 15th, 2013 as illustrator Angela "LemurKat" Oliver began working her way, systematically but selectively, through the alphabet and presenting, via social media, an illustrated animal to the world. Daily.

All pieces are drawn as 2.5 x 3.5 inch collectible cards, using a combination of polychromos and prismacolor pencils, along with other art materials. Many are still available for purchase ($10) or trade, so drop her an email if anything captures your eye or if there is an animal you wish to request.

It is predicted this project will take her at least two years to complete - with approximately 36 animals being drawn for each letter. She has also used the images to create a collectible hardback encyclopedia series, playing cards and a desk calendar, as well as the ZooTrophy collectible trading card game.

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Creature Feature #473: Mongoose

The Mongoose are a Family of Carnivores that includes the meerkat and the four kusimanse species. They are found naturally in Asia, Africa and southern Europe and have been introduced to Puerto Rico, and parts of Hawaii and the Caribbean. Here they have become an invasive pest due to their diet of anything terrestrial: invertebrates, crustaceans, small mammals, birds. Despite their similar appearance, they are not closely related to the mustelid family (mink, ferret, polecat etc) but are actually more closely related to the felines. Mongoose are immune to neurotoxin snake venom; the Indian Gray Mongoose is famed for his ability to kill cobra, although this is not a regular behaviour.

This is a Yellow Mongoose.

The Malagasy "mongoose" species are not actually mongooses at all, but are their own Family. They will be dealt with indivually (or at least the ringtailed mongoose will be).

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Creature Feature #460: Meerkat

The charming Meerkat is a member of the Mongoose Family. She can be found in the deserts of southern Africa where she lives in a large group known as a clan, mob or gang. The clan lives in a network of tunnels, with multiple entrances. During the day they forage for insects and small vertebrate prey. At all times, one or two of the Meerkat will stand on sentry duty, keeping a watchful eye out for predators. If one is sighted, she will alert her clan with a warning bark or whistle. Females will babysit, even nurse, youngsters that are not their own and non-breeding females may begin lactating to feed the more dominant pair's young.