Saharan striped polecat

The Saharan striped polecat (Ictonyx libycus), also known as Saharan striped weasel and Libyan striped weasel, is a species of mammal native to northern Africa. It belongs in the family Mustelidae, and debate exists among experts over what genus it belongs to; it is either placed in Ictonyx along with the striped polecat, or as the lone member of a separate genus called Poecilictis. Genetic analysis has shown that its closest living relatives are the striped polecat and African striped weasel. It mainly inhabits dry, steppe-like environments with sparse bush cover along the edges of the Sahara Desert and on its mountains, avoiding the most arid regions in its center. Occasionally, it is found in oases, woodlands and cultivated land. As a secretive animal, it has likely been overlooked in parts of its range, and sightings of it are still made in recent years in locations where it has not been recorded before.

Measuring 22–30 cm (9–12 in) in length excluding the tail, this species is a small, slender animal with short legs and a bushy tail. It tends to have a black face, underside and legs, with white facial patterns, a light-coloured back and flanks, and dark stripes running down its back. However, the exact colouration and patterning is highly variable between different individuals, and multiple subspecies have been established based on these differences. Fur length is also variable, with the light fur in some populations growing so long that they partly obscure the back stripes, making them appear to have spots or patches. The Saharan striped polecat has glands near its anus which can spray a noxious fluid at potential predators so that the animal can defending itself. Its striking colouration is an example of aposematism, warning predators of its spray to deter them from attacking. It is also highly aggressive to species it views as threats, including humans, commonly hissing and spitting at them rather than fleeing immediately. Sometimes, it will also feign death to avoid predation. Unlike its closest relatives, it has fur on the undersides of its paws, likely as an adaptation to its sandy habitat.

This animal is a capable digger, using its claws to excavate burrows for shelter. It is nocturnal and retreats into these burrows during the day, though it also inhabits crevices in rocks or burrows made by other animals. By night, it hunts for the small animals which it kills with a bite to the back of the skull and feeds on. It mainly preys on lizards, but will also take insects, birds, eggs and small mammals. Captive individuals are also known to eat small amounts of plant matter. Because of its aggressive defensive behaviour and spray, most predators likely avoid preying on it, with the Pharaoh eagle-owl hunting it the most regularly. It may also compete with other mustelids such as the striped polecat and least weasel. A solitary animal, the Saharan striped polecat tends to live alone in the wild, but captive individuals can reportedly be kept together without fighting. The mating season is likely variable, and females give birth in a burrow to a litter of one to three young after a gestation period of 37 days to 11 weeks. Though categorized as a least-concern species by the IUCN, little research has been done on its population. Considering the pressure it faces from the loss and modification of its habitat, human-wildlife conflict, harvest for traditional medicine, and feral dogs, this species may actually be threatened.