Striped Polecat
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| Ictonyx striatus Kaup, 1835 |
The Striped Polecat (Ictonyx striatus, also called the African Polecat, Zoril, Zorille or Zorilla) is a member of the weasel family which somewhat resembles a skunk. It is the only member of genus Ictonyx. It is found in savannahs and open country in southern and west Africa.
Like other polecats, this carnivore is nocturnal. It has several means of avoiding predators - including the ability to emit foul-smelling excretions from its anal glands, playing dead and climbing trees. The animal is mainly black but has four prominent white stripes running from the head, along the back to the tail. The Striped Polecat is typically 60 centimeters long including a 20-centimeter tail. It lives for up to 15 years.
The Striped Polecat is solitary, tolerating contact with others only to mate. Young are generally born between September and December, with one to three young per litter.
[edit] References
- Mustelid Specialist Group (1996). Ictonyx striatus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006.
- Nowak, Ronald M. (2005). Walker's Carnivores of the World. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press. ISBN 0-8018-8032-7
[edit] External links
- Ictonyx striatus on the Animal Diversity Web
- Image of the polecat from animalpicturesarchive.com
