(Atilax paludinosus)

Water mongoose are solitary, adept at digging and are good swimmers. They have well-developed cheek teeth for crushing crabs and beetles. Water mongoose emit a strong scent from an anal gland when disturbed. Additionally this gland is used to mark territories.

These mongoose have a short tapering tail with a robust, dark brown body. Their diet consists of crabs, fish, reptiles, rodents, birds and wild fruit. They may also prey on the eggs of the crocodile.  They are often seen in groups in the sand forest near to water at Leopard Walk Lodge.