Marbled polecatFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Marbled polecat

Adult marbled polecat (Vormela

peregusna)

Conservation status

Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Carnivora

Family: Mustelidae

Subfamily: Mustelinae

Genus: Vormela

Species: V. peregusna

Binomial name

Vormela peregusna

(Güldenstädt, 1770)

Marbled polecat range

The marbled polecat (Vormela peregusna) is a small mammal belonging to

the monotypic genus Vormela within the Mustelinae subfamily . Vormela is from

the German word Würmlein,[1] which means "little worm". The term peregusna comes from perehuznya,

which is Ukrainian for polecat.[2] Marbled polecats are generally found in the drier areas and grasslands of

southeastern Europe to westernChina. Like other members of Mustelinae, it can emit a strong-smelling

secretion from anal sacs under the tail when threatened.

Contents

  [hide] 

1 Description

2 Distribution

3 Behavior

4 Reproduction

5 Ecology

o 5.1 Habitat

o 5.2 Diet

6 Conservation status

7 Remarks

8 See also

9 References

10 External links

Description[edit]

Paws, nose and ear, as illustrated inPocock's The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma - MammaliaVol 2

Skull and baculum, as illustrated inPocock's The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma - MammaliaVol 2

Ranging in length from 29–35 cm (head and body), the marbled polecat has a short muzzle and very

large, noticeable ears. The limbs are short and claws are long and strong. While the tail is long, with long

hair, the overall pelage is short. Black and white mark the face, with a black stripe across the eyes and

white markings around the mouth. Dorsally, the pelage is yellow and heavily mottled with irregular reddish

or brown spots. The tail is dark brown with a yellowish band in the midregion. The ventral region and

limbs are a dark brown.[3] Females weigh from 295 to 600 g, and males can range from 320 to 715 g.[4][5][6]

Distribution[edit]

The marbled polecat is found from southeast Europe to Russia and China. Its range

includesBulgaria, Georgia, Turkey, Romania, Asia

Minor, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Palestine,Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Afghanistan, north-

western Pakistan, Yugoslavia, Mongolia, China,Kazakhstan and north to the Altai Steppes in Siberia.[7][8][9]

[10][11][12][13][14][15][16] In 1998, a marbled polecat was recorded on the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt.[17]

Behavior[edit]

Marbled polecats are most active during the morning and evening.[18][19][20] Their eyesight is weak and they

rely on a well-developed sense of smell.[21] Vocalization is limited and consists of shrill alarm cries, grunts

and a submissive long shriek.[22]

Marbled polecats are solitary and move extensively through their 0.5- to 0.6-km2 home range. They

generally only stay in a shelter once. When they encounter each other, they are usually aggressive.[23]

When alarmed, a marbled polecat will raise up on its legs while arching its back and curling its tail over

the back, with the long tail hair erect. It may also raise its head, bare its teeth, and give shrill, short hisses.[24][25] If threatened, it can expel a foul-smelling secretion from enlarged anal glands under the tail.[26]

To dig, such as when excavating dens, the marbled polecat digs out earth with its forelegs while

anchoring itself with its chin and hind legs. It will use its teeth to pull out obstacles such as roots.[27]

Reproduction[edit]

Marbled polecats mate from March to early June.[28][29] Their mating calls are most often heard as low

rumbling sounds in a slow rhythm. Gestationcan be long and variable (243 days to 327 days).[30] Parturition has been observed to occur from late January to mid-March.[31][32] Delayed

implantationallows marbled polecats to time the birth of their cubs for favorable conditions, such as

when prey is abundant.[33]

Litter sizes range from four to eight cubs.[34][35][36] Only females care for the young. Cubs open their eyes at

around 38–40 days old, are weaned at 50–54 days and leave their mother (disperse) at 61–68 days old.[37]

Ecology[edit]

Habitat[edit]

Marbled polecats are found in open desert, semidesert, and semiarid rocky areas in upland valleys and

low hill ranges, steppe country and arid subtropical scrub forest. They avoid mountainous regions.[38][39]

[40] Marbled polecats have been sighted in cultivated areas such as melon patches and vegetable fields.[41]

Burrows of large ground squirrels or similar rodents such as the great gerbil (Rhombomys opinus) and

Libyan jird are used by marbled polecats for resting and breeding. They may also dig their own dens or

live in underground irrigation tunnels.[42][43] In the winter, marbled polecats will line their dens with grass.[44]

Diet[edit]

Marbled polecats are known to eat ground squirrels, Libyan jirds (Meriones libycus), Armenian

hamsters (Cricetulus migratorius), voles, mole rats (Spalax lecocon ehrenbergi), house mice (Mus

musculus), and other rodents, small hares, birds, lizards, fish, frogs, snails,

and insects (beetles and crickets), as well as fruit and grass.[45][46][47][48][49] They are also recorded as taking

small domestic poultry such as chickens and pigeons, as well as stealing smoked meat and cheese.[50][51]

[52]

Conservation status[edit]

In 2008, V. peregusna was classified as a vulnerable species in the IUCN Red List due to a population

reduction of at least 30% in the previous 10 years.[53] In 1996, it had been considered a species of least

concern. The decline in marbled polecat populations thought to be due to habitat destruction (cultivation)

and reduction in available prey by use of rodenticides.[54][55][56]

Remarks[edit]

Pelts of various marbled polecat subspecies.

The marbled polecat was once sought for its fur, generally known as "fitch" or more specifically,

"perwitsky" in the fur trade.[1][2]

In 1945, Kabul shopkeepers were reported to have kept marbled polecats to exterminate rodents. Their

journals also show some developed an adverse reaction to the strong smell they emit when threatened.

Side effects varied from fever to diarrhea.[57]

Other names for the marbled polecat

include aladzhauzen (Turkmen), berguznya (Kuban), chokha (Kalmuck), fessyah (stinky

in Arabic), abulfiss(Arabic), hu-yio (Chinese), myshovka (Terek Cossacks dialect), pereguznya,

pereguzka, or perevishchik (Ukrainian), perevyazka (Russian), perewiaske(Polish), alaca sansar, alaca

kokarca, benekli kokarca (Turkish), suur-tyshkan (Kyrgyz), putois marbré or putois de

Pologne (French); Tigeriltis(German), mottled polecat (English), sarmatier; Syrian marbled polecat, and

tiger polecat.[58] In some contexts it is called the tiger weasel.[3][4]

The subspecies of V. peregusna include:

V. p. alpherakyi

V. p. euxina

V. p. negans

V. p. pallidor

V. p. peregusna

V. p. syriaca

See also[edit]