Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

On the origin of the Egyptian mongoose in the Iberian Peninsula: is there room for reasonable doubt?

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Mammalian Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Egyptian mongoose is a carnivore distributed in Africa, Middle East and Iberian Peninsula (IP). The species has always been considered exotic in the IP, with its presence attributed to Man as a consequence of the Muslim Occupations. This view is still not consensual. Genetic studies suggested that the species may have naturally dispersed to Iberia during Late Pleistocene, by crossing the Strait of Gibraltar. Recent studies concluded that the species was previously introduced by the Romans, but did not naturally disperse millennia before. The ongoing discussion about the origin of Egyptian mongoose in Europe implies that both theses—natural dispersion and anthropogenic introduction—are mutually exclusive, which we argue may not be the case. Considering that there are still gaps about the species’ origin, we attempted to review the current state of knowledge on the species origin in the IP, discuss the arguments in favor and against of all hypotheses and suggest future research to clarify them. Instead of refuting any of the assumptions on the species’ origin in Europe, we hypothesize the merge of all hypotheses. Archaeological findings coupled with historical records and genetic evidences push further the hypothesis of multiple introductions of the species from Pre-historical Periods, to Classical Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages. We consider there is room to question the species’ exotic nature in the IP, thus its status should be reviewed. Nevertheless, further studies are needed for a more consistent assessment of the origin and status of the Egyptian mongoose in the IP.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Availability of data and material

Not applicable.

Code availability

Not applicable.

References

  • Ali JR, Vences M (2019) Mammals and long-distance over-water colonization: The case for rafting dispersal; the case against phantom causeways. J Biogeogr 46(11):2632–2636

    Google Scholar 

  • Álvares F, Ferreira CC, Barbosa AM, Rosalino LM, Pedroso NM, Bencatel J (2017) Carnívoros. In: Bencatel J, Álvares J, Moura AE, Barbosa AM (eds) Atlas de mamíferos de Portugal. Universidade de Évora, Évora

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderung C, Bouwman A, Persson P, Carretero JM, Ortega AI, Elburg R, Smith C, Arsuaga JL, Ellegren H, Götherström A (2005) Prehistoric contacts over the Straits of Gibraltar indicated by genetic analysis of Iberian Bronze Age cattle. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 102(24):8431–8435

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Balmori A, Carbonell R (2012) Expansion and distribution of the Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) in the Iberian Peninsula. Galemys 24:83–85

    Google Scholar 

  • Barros T, Carvalho J, Pereira MJR, Ferreira JP, Fonseca C (2015) Following the trail: factors underlying the sudden expansion of the Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) in Portugal. PLoS ONE 10:e0133768

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Barros T, Gaubert P, Rocha RG, Bandeira V, Souto L, Mira A, Fonseca C (2016a) Mitochondrial demographic history of the expanding Egyptian mongoose in the Iberian Peninsula. Mamm Biol 81:176–184

    Google Scholar 

  • Barros T, Ferreira E, Rocha RG, Gaubert P, Bandeira V, Souto L, Mira A, Fonseca C (2016b) Genetic signature of the northward expansion of the Egyptian mongoose Herpestes ichneumon (Herpestidae) in the Iberian Peninsula. Biol J Lin Soc 118(3):686–697

    Google Scholar 

  • Blanco JC (1998) Mamíferos de España I (Insectivoros, Primates y Carnívoros). Editorial Geoplaneta. Barcelona, Spain

  • Blondel J (2006) The ‘design’ of Mediterranean landscapes: a millennial story of human and ecological systems during the historic period. Hum Ecol 34:713–729

    Google Scholar 

  • Borralho R, Rego F, Palomares F, Hora A (1996) The distribution of the Egyptian mongoose Herpestes ichneumon (L.) in Portugal. Mamm Rev 26:1–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Cabral MJ (coord) (2005) Almeida J, Almeida PR, Dellinger T, Ferrand de Almeida N, Oliveira ME, Palmeirim JM, Queiroz AI, Rogado L, Santos-Reis M (eds) Livro Vermelho dos Vertebrados de Portugal. Instituto da Conservação da Natureza. Lisboa, Portugal

  • Cabrera A (1914) Fauna Ibérica. Mamíferos. Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid

    Google Scholar 

  • Calmet C, Pascal M, Samadi S (2001) Is it worth eradicating the invasive pest Rattus norvegicus from Molene archipelago? Genetic structure as a decision-making tool. Biodivers Conserv 10(6):911–928

    Google Scholar 

  • Campanella L, Wilkens B (2004) Una mangusta egiziana (Herpestes ichneumon) dall’abitato fenicio di Sant’Antioco. Rivista di Studi Fenici 32:25–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Cardoso JL, Vilstrup JT, Eisenmann V, Orlando L (2013) First evidence of Equus asinus L. in the Chalcolithic disputes the Phoenicians as the first to introduce donkeys into the Iberian Peninsula. J Archaeol Sci 40(12):4483–4490

    Google Scholar 

  • Carenti G, Wilkens B (2006) La colonizzazione fenicia e punica e il suo influsso sulla fauna sarda. Corsica et Baleares antiquae IV, Sardinia, pp 173–186

    Google Scholar 

  • Carranza S, Arnold EN, Pleguezuelos JM (2006) Phylogeny, biogeography, and evolution of two Mediterranean snakes, Malpolon monspessulanus and Hemorrhois hippocrepis (Squamata, Colubridae), using mtDNA sequences. Mol Phylogenet Evol 40:532–546

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cavallini P, Palomares F (2008) Herpestes ichneumon. The IUCN red list of threatened species. www.iucnredlist.org

  • Ciolek TM (2012) Georeferenced historical transport/travel/communication routes and nodes. OW-TRAD dromographic digital data archives (ODDDA): old world trade routes (OWTRAD) Project. www.ciolek.com. Asia Pacific Research Online, Canberra, Australia.

  • Collins R (1989) The Arab conquest of Spain 710–797. Blackwell, Oxford, p 87

    Google Scholar 

  • Colominas L, Edwards CJ (2017) Livestock trade during the early Roman period: first clues from the trading post of Empúries (Catalonia). Int J Osteoarchaeol 27(2):167–179

    Google Scholar 

  • Cosson JF, Hutterer R, Libois R, Sara M, Taberlet P, Vogel P (2005) Phylogeographical footprints of the Strait of Gibraltar and Quaternary fluctuations in the western Mediterranean: a case study with the greater white-toothed shrew, Crocidura russula (Mammalia: Soricidae). Mol Ecol 14:1151–1162

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • De Queiroz A (2005) The resurrection of oceanic dispersal in historical biogeography. Trends Ecol Evol 20(2):68–73

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Delibes M (1982) Notas sobre la distribución pasada y actual del meloncillo Herpestes ichneumon (L.) en la Península Ibérica. Doñana-Acta Vertebr 9:341–352

    Google Scholar 

  • Detry C, Bicho N, Fernandes H, Fernandes C (2011) The Emirate of Córdoba (756–929 AD) and the introduction of the Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) in Iberia: the remains from Muge, Portugal. J Archaeol Sci 38:3518–3523

    Google Scholar 

  • Detry C, Cardoso JL, Mora JH, Bustamante-Álvarez M, Silva AM, Pimenta J, Fernandes I, Fernandes C (2018) Did the Romans introduce the Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) into the Iberian Peninsula?. Sci Nat 105(11):1–13

  • Do Linh San E, Maddock AH, Gaubert P, Palomares F (2016) Herpestes ichneumon. IUCN Red List Threat Species. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T41613A45207211.en

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dobson M (1998) Mammal distributions in the western Mediterranean: the role of human intervention. Mamm Rev 28(2):77–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Dobson M, Wright A (2000) Faunal relationships and zoogeographical affinities of mammals in north-west Africa. J Biogeogr 27:417–424

    Google Scholar 

  • Fernández-Jalvo Y, Andrews P, Denys C (1999) Cut marks on small mammals at Olduvai Gorge Bed-I. J Hum Evol 36(5):587–589

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Frantz LA, Schraiber JG, Madsen O, Megens HJ, Cagan A, Bosse M, Paudel Y, Crooijmans RP, Larson G, Groenen MA (2015) Evidence of long-term gene flow and selection during domestication from analyses of Eurasian wild and domestic pig genomes. Nat Genet 47(10):1141–1148

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Frantz LA, Mullin VE, Pionnier-Capitan M, Lebrasseur O, Ollivier M, Perri A, Linderholm A, Mattiangeli V, Teasdale MD, Dimopoulos EA, Tresset A (2016) Genomic and archaeological evidence suggest a dual origin of domestic dogs. Science 352(6290):1228–1231

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gaubert P (2016) Fate of the mongooses and the genet (Carnivora) in mediterranean europe: none native, all invasive? In: Angelici FM (ed) Problematic wildlife. Springer, Cham, pp 295–314

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaubert P, Godoy JA, Del Cerro I, Palomares F (2009) Early phases of a successful invasion: mitochondrial phylogeography of the common genet (Genetta genetta) within the Mediterranean Basin. Biol Invasions 11(3):523–546

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaubert P, Machordom A, Morales A, Bao J, Veron G, Amin M, Barros T, Basuony M, Djagoun C, San E, Fonseca C, Geffen E, Gouichiche M, Ozkurt S, Cruaud C, Couloux A, Palomares F (2011) Comparative phylogeography of two African carnivorans presumably introduced into Europe: disentangling natural versus human-mediated dispersal across the Strait of Gibraltar. J Biogeogr 38:341–358

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaudeul M, Giraud T, Kiss L, Shykoff JA (2011) Nuclear and chloroplast microsatellites show multiple introductions in the worldwide invasion history of common ragweed Ambrosia artemisiifolia. PLoS ONE 6(3):e17658

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Gerli EM (2003) Medieval Iberia: Na Encyclopaedia. Routledge, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Giuffra EJMH, Kijas JMH, Amarger V, Carlborg Ö, Jeon JT, Andersson L (2000) The origin of the domestic pig: independent domestication and subsequent introgression. Genetics 154(4):1785–1791

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Goedbloed DJ, van Hooft P, Megens HJ, Langenbeck K, Lutz W, Crooijmans RP, van Wieren SE, Ydenberg RC, Prins HH (2013) Reintroductions and genetic introgression from domestic pigs have shaped the genetic population structure of Northwest European wild boar. BMC Genet 14(1):43

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Gómez A, David HL (2007) Refugia within refugia: patterns of phylogeographic concordance in the Iberian Peninsula. In: Weiss S, Ferrand N (eds) Phylogeography of southern European refugia. Springer, Netherlands, pp 155–188

    Google Scholar 

  • Graciá E, Giménez A, Anadón JD, Harris DJ, Fritz U, Botella F (2013) The uncertainty of Late Pleistocene range expansions in the western Mediterranean: a case study of the colonization of south-eastern Spain by the spur-thighed tortoise, Testudo graeca. J Biogeogr 40(2):323–334

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris DJ, Batista V, Lymberakis P, Carretero MA (2004) Complex estimates of evolutionary relationships in Tarentola mauritanica (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) derived from mitochondrial DNA sequences. Mol Phylogenet Evol 30:855–859

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hortal J, de Bello F, Diniz-Filho JAF, Lewinsohn TM, Lobo JM, Ladle RJ (2015) Seven shortfalls that beset large-scale knowledge of biodiversity. Ann Rev Ecol Evol Syst 46:523-549

  • Knapp AB, Blake E (2005) Chapter 1. Prehistory in the mediterranean: the connecting and corrupting sea. In: Blake E, Knapp B (eds) The archaeology of mediterranean prehistory. Blackwell Publishing, Malden

    Google Scholar 

  • Leitch V (2013) Reconstructing history through pottery: the contribution of Roman N African cookwares. J Rom Archaeol 26:281–306

    Google Scholar 

  • Martínková N, McDonald RA, Searle JB (2007) Stoats (Mustela erminea) provide evidence of natural overland colonization of Ireland. Proc R Soc B 274(1616):1387–1393

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Meixner MD, McPheron BA, Silva JG, Gasparich GE, Sheppard WS (2002) The Mediterranean fruit fly in California: evidence for multiple introductions and persistent populations based on microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA variability. Mol Ecol 11(5):891–899

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morales A (1994) Earliest genets in Europe. Nature 370:512–513

    Google Scholar 

  • Morales-Pérez JV, Sanchís-Serra A (2009) The Quaternary fossil record of the genus Testudo in the Iberian Peninsula. Archaeological implications and diachronic distribution in the western Mediterranean. J Archaeol Sci 36:1152–1162

    Google Scholar 

  • Palomares F (2007) Herpestes ichneumon Linnaeus, 1758. In: Palomo LJ, Gisbert J, Blanco JC (eds) Atlas y Libro Rojo de los Mamíferos Terrestres de España. Dirección General para la Biodiversidad-SECEM-SECEMU, Madrid, pp 327–329

    Google Scholar 

  • Paulo OS, Pinto I, Bruford MW, Jordan WC, Nichols RA (2002) The double origin of Iberian peninsular chameleons. Biol J Lin Soc 75:1–7

    Google Scholar 

  • Pereira F, Davis SJ, Pereira L, McEvoy B, Bradley DG, Amorim A (2006) Genetic signatures of a Mediterranean influence in Iberian Peninsula sheep husbandry. Mol Biol Evol 23(7):1420–1426

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pérez I, Giménez A, Pedreño A (2011) A qualitative examination of the social practices and representations towards a species of endangered tortoise. Wildl Res 38:323–329

    Google Scholar 

  • Pires AE, Detry C, Fernandez-Rodriguez C, Arruda AM, De Grossi MJ, Valenzuela S, Ollivier M, Hänni C, Simões F, Ginja C (2017) Roman dogs from the Iberian Peninsula and the Maghreb: a glimpse into their morphology and genetics. Quat Int 471:132–146

    Google Scholar 

  • Pires AE, Detry C, Chikhi L, Rasteiro R, Amorim IR, Simões F, Matos J, Petrucci-Fonseca F, Ollivier M, Hänni C, Cardoso JL (2019) The curious case of the Mesolithic Iberian dogs: an archaeogenetic study. J Archaeol Sci 105:116–129

    Google Scholar 

  • Quenette PY, Alonso M, Chayron L, Cluzel P, Dubarry E, Dubreuil D, Palazon S, Pomarol M (2001) Preliminary results of the first transplantation of brown bears in the French Pyrenees. Ursus 12:115–120

    Google Scholar 

  • Recuero E, Iraola A, Rubio X, Machordom A, García-París M (2007) Mitochondrial differentiation and biogeography of Hyla meridionalis (Anura: Hylidae): an unusual phylogeographical pattern. J Biogeogr 34(7):1207–1219

    Google Scholar 

  • Riquelme-Cantal JA, Simón-Vallejo MD, Palmqvist P, Cortés-Sánchez M (2008) The oldest mongoose of Europe. J Archaeol Sci 35:2471–2473

    Google Scholar 

  • Sandro B (2008) Introduction of the American grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) in Europe: a case study in biological invasion. Curr Sci 95:903–906

    Google Scholar 

  • Scandura M, Iacolina L, Crestanello B, Pecchioli E, Di Benedetto MF, Russo V, Davoli R, Apollonio M, Bertorelle G (2008) Ancient vs. recent processes as factors shaping the genetic variation of the European wild boar: are the effects of the last glaciation still detectable? Mol Ecol 17(7):1745–1762

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Scheidel W (2014) The shape of the Roman world: modelling imperial connectivity. J Rom Archaeol 27:7–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Schule W (1993) Mammals, vegetation and the initial human settlement of the Mediterranean islands: a palaeoecological approach. J Biogeogr 20:399–411

    Google Scholar 

  • Sunnucks P (2000) Efficient genetic markers for population biology. Trends Ecol Evol 15(5):199–203

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Theodorou GE, Roussiakis SI, Athanassiou A, Giaourtsakis I, Panayides I (2007) A late Pleistocene endemic genet (Carnivora, Viverridae) from Aghia Napa, Cyprus. Bull Geol Soc Greece 40(1):201–208

    Google Scholar 

  • Van den Bergh GD, de Vos J, Sondaar PY (2001) The Late Quaternary palaeogeography of mammal evolution in the Indonesian Archipelago. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 171(3–4):385–408

    Google Scholar 

  • Wickham C (2010) The inheritance of Rome: a history of Europe from 400 to 1000. Penguin, London, p 688

    Google Scholar 

  • Zalewski A, Michalska-Parda A, Bartoszewicz M, Kozakiewicz M, Brzeziński M (2010) Multiple introductions determine the genetic structure of an invasive species population: American mink Neovison vison in Poland. Biol Cons 143(6):1355–1363

    Google Scholar 

  • Zazo C (1999) Interglacial sea levels. Quat Int 55(1):101–113

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all the people that contributed for gathering valuable references and who helped us going further with the ideas presented in this paper. We are grateful to Alexandre C. for the English reviewing. These contributions significantly improved this manuscript. This work is also a result of the project “Apoio à Contratação de Recursos Humanos Altamente Qualificados” (NORTE-06-3559-FSE-000045), supported by Norte Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement. ForestWISE - Collaborative Laboratory for Integrated Forest & Fire Management, was recognized as a CoLAB by the Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P. (FCT). Thanks are due to FCT/MCTES for the financial support to CESAM (UIDP/50017/2020+UIDB/50017/2020), through national funds.

Funding

Not applicable.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. ForestWISE-Collaborative Laboratory for Integrated Forest and Fire Management, Quinta de Prados, 5001-801, Vila Real, Portugal

    Carlos Fonseca

  2. Departamento de Biologia Universidade de Aveiro and CESAM (Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar), Campus Universitário Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal

    Tânia Barros, Carlos Fonseca & Eduardo Ferreira

Authors
  1. Tânia Barros
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Carlos Fonseca
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Eduardo Ferreira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tânia Barros.

Additional information

Handling editor: Emmanuel Serrano.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Barros, T., Fonseca, C. & Ferreira, E. On the origin of the Egyptian mongoose in the Iberian Peninsula: is there room for reasonable doubt?. Mamm Biol 101, 843–850 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42991-021-00117-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42991-021-00117-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation