Ichneumon
Ichneumon, a mongoose native to Africa, Asia Minor, Spain, and Portugal. It is also called the Egyptian mongoose. It is a short-legged animal with sharp, curved claws on its forefeet. The ichneumon is grayish-brown with dark legs and feet, and is slightly larger than a cat. It feeds on insects, fish, snakes, small mammals and birds, and fruit. It has been domesticated since ancient times, and is used to protect homes from rats and snakes.
The ichneumon is Herpestes ichneumon of the civet family, Viverridae.