Black Water Mongoose Genus species - Atilax paludinosus Tribe - Herpestini Subfam. - Herpestingae Family - Viverridae Superfam - Feloida Suborder - FISSIPEDA Order - CARNIVORA Example specimen - KM (768-collectors no.) ♀, 18 Dec. 1945, Deelfontein (Karoo) C.P. Shortridge, 4460', H=2 HB-570 TI-275 HF-108, Ear-3/2, Description Head - black with specks of white (ring in hair), lighter brown around eyes and chin, ears short and close to head. Body - dark brown to black under hairs a fluffy light brown that show up when guard hairs have worn off. Guard hairs ringed with whitish, black, white, black, white, black tipped, below more light brown. Tail - about 1/2 length of body, black, hairs barbed except at tip which is all black. Fore feet - 5 toes and claws, 1st toe shortest, legs brown below, darker above. Hind feet - 5 toes and claws, 1st. toe with nail and outside of foot.