''Atilax'' is a genus of

mongoose A mongoose is a small terrestrial carnivorous mammal belonging to the family Herpestidae. This family is currently split into two subfamilies, the Herpestinae and the Mungotinae. The Herpestinae comprises 23 living species that are native to ...

containing a single living species, the marsh mongoose ''(Atilax paludinosus)''. A single fossil species probably ancestral to the marsh mongoose is also known from

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring count ...

. The generic name ''Atilax'' was introduced in 1826 by

Frédéric Cuvier Georges-Frédéric Cuvier (28 June 1773 – 24 July 1838) was a French zoologist and paleontologist. He was the younger brother of noted naturalist and zoologist Georges Cuvier. Career Frederic was the head keeper of the menagerie at the Muséu ...

References

Mammal genera Mammal genera with one living species Taxa named by Frédéric Cuvier Mongooses {{carnivora-stub