Banded mongooses could give some tips to reality show TV producers on how to engineer sizzling plot lines.<br />According to CNN, when a female banded mongoose looking to mate with a male from a rival gang, she employees a deeply crafty method to hide those lying eyes.<br />She does it by starting fights--and using the violence as a smokescreen.<br />Banded mongooses are small, cat-like creatures found in small groups in some parts of Africa.<br />The territorial animals rarely leave the groups they are born into. As such, group members are often closely genetically related.<br />Michael Cant is a professor of evolutionary biology at the University of Exeter's Centre for Ecology and Conservation.<br />He says the females start fights between groups to gain genetic benefits from mating with outsiders. However, it takes a toll on the rest of the group.<br />We've known for some time that banded mongoose groups often engage in violent battles -- and now we know why. Michael Cant, a professor of evolutionary biology at the University of Exeter's Centre for Ecology and Conservation, said in a statement.
