Sex-driven differences in Egyptian mongoose's (Herpestes ichneumon) diet in its northwestern European range.

The article presents a study on the feeding habits of male and female Egyptian mongoose in Portugal. According to the authors, sex-driven behavioral changes in feeding habits could result to dimorphism and reduced intraspecific competition. To evaluate the sex-driven differences in the diet of the mongoose, the researchers conduct an analysis of the content of road or predator-controlled killed animals. Based on the analysis, the preferred food of mongooses in northwestern Europe is mammals, followed by reptiles. However, the analysis reveals that female mongooses focus no reptiles, while the males consume mostly mammals.