Cynictis

Cynictis is a genus of mongoose in the family Herpestidae containing a single living species, the yellow mongoose (Cynictis penicillata). The yellow mongoose lives in open country, semi-desert scrubland and grassland in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, averaging about 0.45 kilograms in weight and 510 millimeters in length, with a lighter underbelly and a bushy tail. Unusually among mongooses it shows no sexual dimorphism. Southern populations tend to be larger with yellow or reddish fur and longer white-tipped tails, while northern populations are smaller and greyer with shorter coats suited to hotter climates.