Mongooses exhibit a range of social behaviors and can live in various social structures. Many mongoose species are known to be highly social and live in groups or colonies. These groups are typically composed of related individuals, such as siblings or extended family members. The size of the groups can vary depending on the species, ranging from small groups of a few individuals to larger colonies with dozens of members.
Living in groups provides several advantages, including increased protection against predators, cooperative hunting and foraging, and shared parental care. Some well-known social mongoose species include meerkats and banded mongooses.
However, there are also mongoose species that are more solitary in nature and prefer to live alone or in pairs. The Indian grey mongoose, for example, is known to be solitary and maintains individual territories. The specific social behavior of a mongoose species depends on various factors, including their habitat, resource availability, and reproductive strategies.