The mongoose and ferret are animals that exhibit common physical features, such as a long body and short legs. The mongoose is found throughout Africa and Asia, while the ferret is thought to have originated in Europe.

The domestic European ferret (Mustela putorius furo), is a member of the mustelid family which also includes otters, mink, badgers, weasels, skunks, & numerous other musk-producing mammals. Ferrets are not members of the rodent family, nor are they related to the opossum, raccoon or mongoose.

weasel subfamily (Mustelinae)

• badgers (genera Meles and Taxidea)
• ferrets (genus Mustela)
• grison (genus Galictis)
• honey badger or ratel (Mellivora capensis)
• martens (genus Martes) fisher (Martes pennanti) sable (Martes zibellina)
• mink (genera Mustela and Neovison)
• polecats (genus Ictonyx)
• tayra (Eira barbara)

The mongoose is known for its ability to fight and kill venomous snakes, especially cobras. Their specialised acetylcholine receptors render them immune to venom. The mongoose is known for its ability to fight and kill venomous snakes, especially cobras.

Snakes. Snakes are the natural enemy of the mongoose–especially the cobra. A mongoose has speed and agility on its side when fighting a cobra, but it is not immune to the deadly venom. Cobras can grow up to 12 feet and eat small mammals like the mongoose.

inland taipan

The maximum yield recorded from a single bite of Inland Taipan is 110 mg and the venom is so toxic that just one bite is enough to kill at least 100 human adults or 250 thousand mice. Depending on several factors a bite if left untreated as the potential to kill someone in as little as 30 to 45 minutes.

The bite of the Inland Taipan with envenomation can be rapidly fatal (as early as 30 minutes).