The Egyptian mongoose is primarily active in the day time, but it can also be active at night. It inhabits a den that can be natural, such as a rock crevice or a thicket of vegetation, or it may dig or adopt a burrow (2) (6).
A largely carnivorous species that is highly reliant on scent when hunting (2), the Egyptian mongoose forages primarily in the early morning and late afternoon (4)
[.] It has a varied diet that includes small birds and mammals, snakes, frogs, toads, insects, fish and crabs, and sometimes also eggs, fruit and occasionally dead carcasses (2). It is renowned for its ability to hunt poisonous snakes, which is possible due to the mongoose’s low sensitivity to poison and its thick coat that offers a degree of protection (2).
Generally there is no particular breeding season for the Egyptian mongoose, although in the Middle East the majority of births take place in the spring. Most litters comprise two to four young, which are born after a gestation period of 49 to 84 days (2) (6).
A sociable mammal that lives in pairs or family groups, it is likely that each group defends a territory together. The Egyptian mongoose can arch its back and raise its fur when excited or threatened and can rear up on its hind legs to check its surroundings. Although rarely heard, it is capable of chattering, squeaking and growling (2).