Striped polecat

The striped polecat (Ictonyx striatus), also called the African polecat, zoril, zorille, zorilla, African muishond, striped muishond, Cape polecat, and African skunk, is a species of mammal native to sub-Saharan Africa. Despite bearing some resemblance to a skunk (of the family Mephitidae), it actually belongs in a separate family known as the Mustelidae, and genetic analysis suggests that its closest living relative is the African striped weasel. Historically, this species has been wrongly classified as a type of skunk or sloth. It is adaptable and lives in a wide range of habitats and elevations, with a preference for open environments that have lower levels of shrubs, especially ones where large ungulates are present to control shrub growth. It avoids dense rainforests and deserts with no scrub cover, thus being absent from the Congo Basin, the more coastal areas of West Africa, and the driest parts of Somalia and Ethiopia.

Measuring 30–38 cm (12–15 in) in length excluding the tail, the striped polecat is a small mammal, with males growing larger than females. Its fur is mostly black, with distinctive white stripes running down its back and white patches on its face and tail, though the exact patterning is highly variable between different individuals and populations. A large number of subspecies have been proposed based on these differences, though it is unclear how many of these (if any) are valid. Near its anus, the striped polecat has glands which can spray a nauseating, irritating fluid at potential predators as a way of defending itself. Its striking colouration is an example of aposematism, warning predators of its spray to deter them from attacking, and it takes a defensive stance with its back arched and tail raised before it sprays. Feigning death is another method it uses to avoid predation.

The forelimbs of this animal bear long, curved claws which it uses to excavate burrows or dig for invertebrate prey in soil or dung. The striped polecat is a predatory and mostly carnivorous animal that primarily feeds on insects, rodents and small reptiles, catching them on the ground or just beneath the surface. Birds, eggs, amphibians and other invertebrates are also known prey items. A nocturnal creature, it actively forages throughout the night and retreats to a resting area during the day, which is typically a burrow or other crevice. Most prey is eaten whole and killed with a bite to the head, sometimes while pinned down using the mustelid's forelimbs, though larger prey may bitten in other areas and skinned before they are eaten. Plant matter may also be consumed, though this is much more rarely eaten than animal prey. Due to its defensive spray, the striped polecat is rarely targeted by predators, and vehicular collision is a more common cause of death. Multiple parasite species may occur in or on this mammal, and it is also a known carrier of rabies.

The striped polecat is a mostly solitary animal, and adult males are hostile towards one another, though family groups do occur and multiple can be kept together in captivity. Females tolerate males during the breeding season, and after a gestation period of 36 day, the mother gives birth to and raises her litter of two or three young. Newborns have closed eyes and ears, and are almost hairless, with most of their pink skin visible. A variety of different calls are used by striped polecats to communicate with each other, as are behavioural cues such as raised hair when angered or displaying their black underside in friendly interactions. Olfactic communication involving its odorous fluids likely occurs as well. Though it may compete with other small carnivores in its range such as mongooses, genets and African striped weasels, this is likely minimized by niche partitioning. The striped polecat is common across most of its range, despite localized population declines, and is not believed to face any major threats to its overall survival as a species.