Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Cladus: Synapsida
Cladus: Eupelycosauria
Cladus: Sphenacodontia
Cladus: Sphenacodontoidea
Cladus: Therapsida
Cladus: Theriodontia
Cladus: Cynodontia
Cladus: Eucynodontia
Cladus: Probainognathia
Cladus: Prozostrodontia
Cladus: Mammaliaformes
Classis: Mammalia
Subclassis: Trechnotheria
Infraclassis: Zatheria
Supercohors: Theria
Cohors: Eutheria
Infraclassis: Placentalia
Cladus: Boreoeutheria
Superordo: Laurasiatheria
Cladus: Scrotifera
Cladus: Ferungulata
Cladus: Ferae
Cladus: Pancarnivora
Cladus: Carnivoramorpha
Cladus: Carnivoraformes
Ordo: Carnivora
Subordo: Caniformia
Infraordo: Arctoidea
Superfamilia: Musteloidea
Familia: Mustelidae
Subfamilia: Mustelinae
Genus: Ictonyx
Species: Ictonyx striatus
Subspecies: I. s. albescens – I. s. arenarius – I. s. elgonis – I. s. erythreae – I. s. ghansiensis – I. s. giganteus – I. s. intermedius – I. s. kalaharicus – I. s. lancasteri – I. s. limpopoensis – I. s. maximus – I. s. obscuratus – I. s. orangiae – I. s. ovamboensis – I. s. pretoriae – I. s. senegalensis – I. s. shoae – I. s. shortridgei – I. s. striatus
Name
Ictonyx striatus (Perry, 1810)
Type locality: "South America". This is clearly in error and Hollister (1918) fixed the type locality as "Cape of Good Hope". [South Africa].
References
Perry, G. C. 1810. Arcana; or, the Museum of Natural History. G. Smeeton, London, United Kingdom, single unpaged volume, signature YT (not seen, cited in Shortridge 1934): Fig. [41][1810].
Serge Lariviére, 2002. Ictonyx striatus Mammalian Species, American Society of Mammologists, No. 698, pp. 1–5, 3 figs.
Ictonyx striatus in Mammal Species of the World.
Wilson, Don E. & Reeder, DeeAnn M. (Editors) 2005. Mammal Species of the World – A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Third edition. ISBN 0-8018-8221-4.
IUCN: Ictonyx striatus (Perry, 1810) (Least Concern)
Ictonyx striatus (Perry, 1810) – Taxon details on Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).
Vernacular names
Afrikaans: Stinkmuishond
Deutsch: Zorilla, Streifeniltis
English: Zorilla, Striped Polecat, Striped Weasel
español: Comadreja o zorrilla común
日本語: ゾリラ
polski: Zorilla
chiShona: Ehidembo
SiSwati: Licaca
Sesotho: Nakedi (N.)
Setswana: Nakedi
Türkçe: Zorilla
Tshivenda: Thuri
isiZulu: Qaqa (Nd.: Iqaqa), Ngankakazana
The striped polecat (Ictonyx striatus), also called the African polecat, zoril, zorille, zorilla, Cape polecat, and African skunk, is a member of the family Mustelidae that resembles a skunk (of the family Mephitidae).[3] The name "zorilla" comes from the Spanish word "zorillo", meaning "skunk", itself a diminutive form of the Spanish "zorro," "fox." It lives predominantly in dry and arid climates, such as the savannahs and open country of Central, Southern, and sub-Saharan Africa, excluding the Congo basin and the more coastal areas of West Africa.[2][4]
Physical characteristics
Striped polecats are about 60–70 cm (24–28 in) in length, including their tails, and 10–15 cm (3.9–5.9 in) tall to the shoulders on average. They weigh from 0.6 to 1.3 kg (1.3 to 2.9 lb), generally, with the males being the larger of the two sexes.[4] Their specific coloring varies by location. Generally they are black on the underside, white on the tail, with stripes running from their heads down their backs and on their cheeks. The legs and feet are black. Their skulls are usually around 56 mm (2.2 in) long, and they have unique face-mask coloring, often including a white spot on their heads, and white ears.[5][6] These masks are thought to serve as warnings to potential predators or other antagonists.[7]
Diet
Like other mustelids, the striped polecat is a carnivore. It has 34 sharp teeth which are optimal for shearing flesh and grinding meat. Its diet includes various small rodents, snakes, birds, amphibians, and insects.[8] Due to their small stomachs, they must eat often, and have clawed paws that help them dig around in the dirt in pursuit of their next meal.[3][9]
Lifestyle and reproduction
The striped polecat is a solitary creature, often only associating with other members of its species in small family groups or for the purpose of breeding. It is nocturnal, hunting mostly at night.[3] During the day, it burrows into the brush or sleeps in the burrows of other animals.[10] Most often, striped polecats are found in habitats with large ungulate populations, because of the lower level of shrubs where these grazers occur.[2][4][11]
After conception, the gestation period for a striped polecat is about 4 weeks. During this time, the mother prepares a nest for her offspring. The newborn polecats are completely vulnerable; they are born blind, deaf, and naked.[12] Around one to five offspring are born per litter in the summer. Up to six can be supported at one time, if food is available, because the mother has six teats.[13] The mother protects her young until they are able to survive on their own.[10]
Defense mechanisms
The striped polecat is an aggressive and very territorial animal. It marks its territory with its feces and through an anal spray.[14] The spray serves as a defense against predators, in a similar manner to skunks. The spray, released by anal stink glands, temporarily blinds their adversaries and irritates the mucous membranes, resulting in an intense burning sensation.[15] Before spraying the opponent with this noxious fluid, the striped polecat often takes a deimatic (threat) stance with its back arched, rear end facing the opponent, and tail straight up in the air.[10]
Communication
Striped polecats have been known to communicate with each other using myriad verbal signals and calls. Growls act as a warning to possible predators, competitors, or other enemies to back off. High-pitched screams have been observed as signifying situations of high aggression or accompanying the spraying of anal emissions. An undulating high- to low-pitched scream has been used to convey surrender or submission to an adversary. This call has been noted to accompany the subsequent release of the loser. Conversely, a quieter undulating call has been interpreted as functioning as a friendly salutation. Mating calls are common forms of communication between the sexes. Young polecats often have a specific set of calls and signals, used in adolescence, either signifying distress or joy depending on if the mother is absent or present.[16][17]
References
Wozencraft, W. C. (2005). "Ictonyx striatus". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 532–628. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
Stuart, C.; Stuart, M.; Do Linh San, E. (2015). "Ictonyx striatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T41646A45212491. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T41646A45212491.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
Walker, Clive (1996). Signs of the Wild. Cape Town: Struik Publishers. p. 56.
Estes, Richard (1991). The Behavior Guide to African Mammals: Including Hoofed Mammals, Carnivores, Primates. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press. p. 429. ISBN 9780520272972.
Skinner & Chimimba (2005). The Mammals of the Southern African Subregion. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 504. ISBN 9780521844185.
Hoath, Richard (2009). A Field Guide to the Mammals of Egypt. Egypt: The American University in Cairo Press. p. 84. ISBN 9789774162541.
Newman; Buesching & Wolff (2005). The function of facial masks in midguild carnivores (PDF). Oxford: Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Dept of Zoology. p. 632.
Estes, Richard (1991). The Behavior Guide to African Mammals: Including Hoofed Mammals, Carnivores, Primates. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press. pp. 422&429.
Skinner & Chimimba (2005). The Mammals of the Southern African Subregion. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 504.
Stuart & Stuart (2001). Field Guide to Mammals of Southern Africa. Cape Town: Struik Publishing. p. 132.
Blaum; Acta Oecologica; et al. (22 December 2007). "Shrub encroachment affects mammalian carnivore abundance and species richness in semiarid rangelands". Acta Oecologica. 31 (1): 86–92. Bibcode:2007AcO....31...86B. doi:10.1016/j.actao.2006.10.004.
Estes, Richard (1991). The Behavior Guide to African Mammals: Including Hoofed Mammals, Carnivores, Primates. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press. pp. 424.
Hoath, Richard (2009). A Field Guide to the Mammals of Egypt. Egypt: The American University in Cairo Press. p. 85. ISBN 9789774162541.
Estes, Richard (1991). The Behavior Guide to African Mammals: Including Hoofed Mammals, Carnivores, Primates. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press. pp. 422.
Estes, Richard (1991). The Behavior Guide to African Mammals: Including Hoofed Mammals, Carnivores, Primates. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press. pp. 419.
Estes, Richard (1991). The Behavior Guide to African Mammals: Including Hoofed Mammals, Carnivores, Primates. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press. pp. 431.
Channing & Rowe-Rowe (1 January 1977). "Vocalizations of South African Mustelines". Zeitschrift für Tierpsychologie. 44 (3): 283–293. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0310.1977.tb00996.x. PMID 930442.
Larivière, Serge (2002). Ictonyx striatus". Mammalian Species (698):1–5.
Nowak, Ronald M. (2005). Walker's Carnivores of the World. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press. ISBN 0-8018-8032-7
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/"
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License
