Fussy eating prevents mongoose family feuds

Mongooses living in large groups develop “specialist” diets so they don't have to fight over food, new research shows

Banded mongooses cooperate closely but are also prone to violence - both between groups and within them - and competition for food increases as a group grows. To get round this, individual mongooses find a dietary “niche,” according to researchers from the universities of Exeter and Roehampton. Group living has advantages and disadvantages, and the findings suggest specialisation is one way to prevent groups being torn apart by fighting. Read more.