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: Mephitidae
Genus: Mydaus
Species: Mydaus marchei
Name
Mydaus marchei (Huet, 1887)
Type locality: "l'ile Palaouan" [Philippine Isls, Palawan].
Holotype: FMNH 62877
Synonyms
Mydaus schadenbergii (Jentink, 1895)
Suillotaxus marchei Lawrence, 1939
References
Huet, M. 1887. [Mydaus marchei] Le Naturaliste, Série 2, 9:149-151 (not seen , cited in Lawrence 1939).
Veen Ten Hwang and Serge Larivifère, 2004. Mydaus marchei, Mammalian Species, American Society of Mammologists, No. 757, pp. 1—3, 3 figs.
Mydaus marchei 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: Mydaus marchei (Huet, 1887) (Least Concern)
Mydaus marchei (Huet, 1887) – Taxon details on Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).
Vernacular names
English: Palawan Stink-badger, Palawan Stink Badger
español: Tejón mofeta de Palawan
Türkçe: Malaya kokan porsuğu
The Palawan stink badger (Mydaus marchei), pantot or tuldo in the Batak language, is a carnivoran of the western Philippines named for its resemblance to badgers, its powerful smell, and the largest island to which it is native, Palawan. Like all stink badgers, the Palawan stink badger was once thought to share a more recent common ancestor with badgers than with skunks. Recent genetic evidence, however, has led to their re-classification as one of the Mephitidae, the skunk family of mammals.[3] It is the size of a large skunk or small badger, and uses its badger-like body to dig by night for invertebrates in open areas near patches of brush. While it lacks the whitish dorsal patches typical of its closest relatives, predators and hunters generally avoid the powerful noxious chemicals it can spray from the specialized anal glands characteristic of mephitids.
Description
Although smaller than true badgers, the Palawan stink badger is one of the larger members of the skunk family, the Mephitidae. Adults measure 32 to 46 cm (13 to 18 in) in length, about the same size as the striped skunk native to North America, and weigh anything from 0.85 to 2.5 kg (1.9 to 5.5 lb). In physical appearance, however, they more closely resemble badgers than skunks. They have a pointed snout with a mobile nose, and a stocky body with short and powerful limbs bearing sharply recurved claws. The tail is very short in comparison to the body, measuring only 1.5 to 4.5 cm (0.59 to 1.77 in), and lacking the bushy fur of many skunks. The ears are almost invisible, with only vestigial pinnae, and the eyes are also relatively small.[4]
The fur is dark brown to black over most of the body, fading to a more brownish colour on the underparts. There are also scattered white hairs across the back and over the forehead, but not the white stripe and head-patch found on the closely related Sunda stink badger. Compared with its sister species, the Palawan stink badger is also slightly smaller, with larger teeth and longer fur. Females have six teats.[4]
Distribution and habitat
Palawan stink badgers live on the Philippine island of Palawan, and also on the neighbouring islands of Busuanga and Calauit.[1] They live primarily in the grasslands and cultivated areas on these islands, and use local shrubs for shelter.[5]
The Palawan stink badger was described as "surprisingly common" in the 1970's, however, it is now considered a vulnerable species by the IUCN. It is unclear whether loss of habitat is adversely affecting M. marchei populations, but, being an endemic species that only inhabits two islands, its conservation is of concern. At this time, there does not appear to be any Philippine law protecting the creature, nor is there any conservation work concerning this species being conducted at this time.[6]
Biology
Palawan stink badgers are nocturnal, and feed mainly on invertebrates, such as freshwater crabs and small insects, which they dig out of the ground with their long claws. They are good diggers, and may spend the day in excavated dens. They may travel up to 2 km (1.2 mi) in search of food, and are reported to mark their territory with scent.[5] They are slow moving, and not particularly aggressive, either freezing or emitting a warning snarl when threatened.[7]
Like skunks, Palawan stink badgers possess anal scent glands that emit a pungent yellowish liquid. They are able to spray the liquid up to a metre,[7] and the scent is said to be strong enough to be smelled up to a mile away.[5] The stink badgers rely almost entirely on this powerful odour for their defence, and are among the few wild animals not eaten by the local farmers.[5]
References
Widmann, P. (2015). "Mydaus marchei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T14055A45201420. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T14055A45201420.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
Huet, J. (1887). "Note sur une espece nouvelle de mammifère du genre Mydaus provenant de l'île Palaouan". Le Naturaliste. 2e série. 9 (13): 149–151.
Dragoo, J.W. & Honeycutt, R.L. (1997). "Systematics of mustelid-like carnivores". Journal of Mammalogy. 78 (2): 426–443. doi:10.2307/1382896. JSTOR 1382896.
Hwang, Y.T. & Larivière, S. (2004). "Mydaus marchei". Mammalian Species. 757: 1–3. doi:10.1644/757.
Kruuk, H. (2000). "Note on status and foraging of the pantot or Palawan stink-badger, Mydaus marchei" (PDF). Small Carnivore Conservation. 22: 11–12. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 18, 2015.
Eurs, V. 2003. "Mydaus marchei" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed October 16, 2020 at https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Mydaus_marchei
Grimwood, I. (1976). "The Palawan stink badger". Oryx. 13 (3): 297. doi:10.1017/S0030605300013776.
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