The marsh mongoose (Atilax paludinosus), also known as the water mongoose or the vansire, is a medium-sized mongoose native to sub-Saharan Africa that inhabits foremost freshwater wetlands. It has been listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List since 2008. Taxonomy The generic name Atilax was introduced in 1826 by Frédéric Cuvier. In 1829, Georges Cuvier referred to a mongoose in the marshes of the Cape Province using the scientific name Herpestes paludinosus. It is the only extant member of the genus Atilax, although an extinct ancestral species from the Early Pleistocene known as Atilax mesotes was also a member of the genus. Characteristics The marsh mongoose's fur is dark reddish brown to black with white and fawn coloured guard hairs. The hair behind the neck and in front of the back is short, but longer on the hind legs and on the tail. Its muzzle is short with a fawn coloured mouth, short whiskers and a naked rhinarium. It has teeth. Its short ears are round. It has two nipples. Its feet have five flexible digits each with curved claws, but without any webbing. The soles of its feet are naked. Females measure in head-to-body length, and males , with a long tail. In weight, adults range from . Both sexes have anal glands in a pouch that produce a musky smelling secretion. Female marsh mongooses have 36 chromosomes, and males 35, as one Y chromosome is translocated to an autosome. Distribution and habitat The marsh mongoose occurs in sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to Ethiopia, and south to Southern Africa, except Namibia. It inhabits freshwater wetlands such as marshes and swamps along slow-moving rivers and streams, but also estuaries in coastal areas. It was probably introduced to Pemba Island in the Zanzibar Archipelago. In Guinea's National Park of Upper Niger, it was recorded during surveys conducted in 1996 to 1997. In Gabon's Moukalaba-Doudou National Park, it was recorded only in forested habitats during a two-months survey in 2012. In the Ethiopian Highlands, it was recorded at an altitude of in Bale Mountains National Park. Behaviour and ecology The marsh mongoose is solitary. It is an excellent swimmer and can dive for up to 15 seconds, using its feet to paddle. On land, it usually trots slowly, but can also move fast. Radio-collared marsh mongooses in KwaZulu-Natal showed crepuscular activity, and were active from shortly after sunset until after