Bdeogale jacksoni Discovered in Tanzania
Posted by: Loren Coleman on December 24th, 2006
Jackson’s mongoose (Bdeogale jacksoni), sometimes called the black-footed mongoose, is considered Africa’s least-known carnivore and now has been discovered in Tanzania.
I’ve already included a note of this breaking news late last night in my posting of The Top Ten Cryptozoology Stories of 2006, but here are the full details:
The Bronx Zoo-based Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) announced December 23, 2006, that a camera-trap study in the mountains of Southern Tanzania has now recorded Africa’s least-known and probably rarest carnivore: Jackson’s mongoose, known only from a few observations and museum specimens. The findings, reported in the latest issue of the journal Oryx, mark not only a range extension for the bushy-tailed carnivore, previously known to exist only in Kenya, but also another species for the Udzungwa Mountains, a veritable "lost world" of rare and unique wildlife.
WCS scientist Dr. Daniela De Luca–together with Dr. Francesco Rovero from Italy’s Trento Museum of Natural Sciences–captured several images of the Jackson’s mongoose in Matundu Forest within the Udzungwa Mountains National Park. Most of the photos were taken between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m., indicating that the animal is largely nocturnal.
"These mongooses may represent a separate subspecies from the one that exists in Kenya," said Dr. De Luca of WCS’ Tanzania Program. "Given the fragmentation and small sizes of the forest patches in which they live, full protection of nearby forests would improve conditions for conserving this species."
In 2004, WCS conservationists working in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania discovered a new species of primate–the kipunji monkey–which in 2006 they described as a new genus as well. The kipunji turned out to be present also in the Udzungwa Mountains. A few years prior, WCS researchers working in the same area "photo-trapped" a Lowe’s servaline genet, the first of its kind recorded in 70 years.
Jackson’s mongoose has round, broad ears, with yellow fur on the neck and throat, and a white bushy tail. It is a close relative of the bushy-tailed mongoose, and is poorly known; previous records for the Jackson’s mongoose are limited to forests in Kenya over 900 kilometers (559 miles) to the north. There are 14 museum specimens in existence from Kenya, and next to nothing is known about its biology.
In addition to increased protection for Matundu, one of East Africa’s largest lowland forests, the scientists recommend initiating studies into the mongoose’s genetics and ecology to better understand the animal’s needs and how best to protect it.
Press Release From Wildlife Conservation Society
About Loren Coleman
Loren Coleman is one of the world’s leading cryptozoologists, some say “the” leading living cryptozoologist. Certainly, he is acknowledged as the current living American researcher and writer who has most popularized cryptozoology in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Starting his fieldwork and investigations in 1960, after traveling and trekking extensively in pursuit of cryptozoological mysteries, Coleman began writing to share his experiences in 1969. An honorary member of Ivan T. Sanderson’s Society for the Investigation of the Unexplained in the 1970s, Coleman has been bestowed with similar honorary memberships of the North Idaho College Cryptozoology Club in 1983, and in subsequent years, that of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club, CryptoSafari International, and other international organizations. He was also a Life Member and Benefactor of the International Society of Cryptozoology (now-defunct).
Loren Coleman’s daily blog, as a member of the Cryptomundo Team, served as an ongoing avenue of communication for the ever-growing body of cryptozoo news from 2005 through 2013. He returned as an infrequent contributor beginning Halloween week of 2015.
Coleman is the founder in 2003, and current director of the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine.
So many species are being discovered and re-discovered. Something is up with the earth.