Ictonychinae
   HOME



picture info

Ictonychinae
Ictonychinae is a subfamily of the mammal Family (biology), family Mustelidae found mainly in the Neotropics (three species) and Africa (three species), with one Eurasian member. It includes the grisons, Patagonian weasel, Ictonyx, striped polecats, African striped weasel, and marbled polecat. These genera were formerly included within a paraphyletic definition of the mustelid subfamily Mustelinae. Most members have a mask-like bar or larger dark marking across their faces; the African representatives of the group are striped. A defense mechanism common to the group is use of a Chemical defense#Mammals, chemical spray similar to (but not necessarily as strong as) that of skunks. Species Subfamily Ictonychinae Fossil genera *''Cernictis'' *''Enhydrictis'' *''Martellictis'' *''Lutravus'' *''Oriensictis'' *''Pannonictis'' *''Propoecilogale'' *''Sminthosinis'' *''Stipanicicia'' *''Trigonictis'' *''Trochictis'' References External links

Ictonychinae, {{carnivor ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


picture info

African Striped Weasel
The African striped weasel (''Poecilogale albinucha''), also known as the white-naped weasel, striped weasel or African weasel, is a small mammal native to sub-Saharan Africa, where its range stretches from as far north as Kenya down south to South Africa. It belongs in the family Mustelidae and is the monotypic, lone member of the genus ''Poecilogale'', which was named in 1883 by Oldfield Thomas. It has a long, slender body with short legs and a bushy tail. One of the smallest carnivorans in Africa, it measures long excluding the tail, with males generally growing larger than females. It has black fur over most of its body, with distinctive white bands running from the top of its head down the length of its back, with the tail being completely white. Genetic analysis has revealed that the closest living relative of this species is the striped polecat, and a prehistoric animal named ''Propoecilogale bolti'' known from fossils may be the ancestor of the African striped weasel. Oc ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


picture info

Mustelidae
The Mustelidae (; from Latin , weasel) are a diverse family of carnivora, carnivoran mammals, including weasels, badgers, otters, polecats, martens, grisons, and wolverines. Otherwise known as mustelids (), they form the largest family in the suborder Caniformia of the order (biology), order Carnivora with about 66 to 70 species in nine subfamilies. Variety Mustelids vary greatly in size and behaviour. The smaller variants of the least weasel can be under in length, while the giant otter of Amazon rainforest, Amazonian South America can measure up to and sea otters can exceed in weight. Wolverines can crush bones as thick as the femur of a moose to get at the Bone marrow, marrow, and have been seen attempting to drive bears away from their kills. The sea otter uses rocks to break open shellfish to eat. Martens are largely arboreal, while European badgers dig extensive tunnel networks, called setts. Only one mustelid has been domesticated; the ferret. Tayra are also kept ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


picture info

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 in length excluding the tail, the str ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  




Marbled Polecat
The marbled polecat (''Vormela peregusna'') is a small mammal belonging to the genus ''Vormela'' within the mustelid subfamily Ictonychinae. ''Vormela'' is from the German language, German word , which means "little worm". The specific name (zoology), specific name ''peregusna'' comes from (), which is Ukrainian language, Ukrainian for "polecat". Marbled polecats are generally found in the drier areas and grasslands of southeastern Europe to western China. Like other members of the Ictonychinae, it can emit a strong-smelling secretion from anal sacs under the tail when threatened. Description 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 he ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


picture info

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 in length excluding the tail, this species is a ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


Enhydrictis
''Enhydrictis'' is a genus of extinct mustelid, belonging to the subfamily Galictinae. The type species, and best known, is ''Enhydrictis galictoides'' from the Pleistocene of Sardinia and Corsica. Some authors attribute species from mainland Eurasia to the genus, but this is disputed, with others considering the genus endemic to Sardinia-Corsica. Taxonomy The exact number of species of ''Enhydrictis'' has been a matter of debate. One species of '' Pannonictis'', ''Pannonictis pilgrimi'', has been classified as a belonging to ''Enhydrictis'' (as ''Enhydrictis ardea''), although this is unlikely. A 2019 study also suggests that the genus '' Oriensictis'' of Asia should be considered a synonym of ''Enhydrictis'' as well. In 2016, a new species from Algeria was described. Known as ''Enhydrictis hoffstetteri'', it is the first member of the genus known from Africa. Other scholars have considered the attribution of this species to ''Enhydrictis'' doubtful, and that the species should b ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


Lyncodon Patagonicus1
The Patagonian weasel (''Lyncodon patagonicus'') is a small mustelid that is the only member of the genus ''Lyncodon''. Its geographic range is the Pampas of western Argentina and sections of Chile. An early mention of the animal is in the Journal of Syms Covington, who sailed with Charles Darwin on his epic voyage aboard ''HMS Beagle''. Description The Patagonian weasel has a head and body length of , with a tail that is . Its fur is whitish with black and dark brown tones mixed in. It has small ears, short legs and a bushy tail. The animal has not been thoroughly studied in the wild, and knowledge of its behavioral patterns is unsure. It reportedly has been kept as a working pet A pet, or companion animal, is an animal kept primarily for a person's company or entertainment rather than as a working animal, livestock, or a laboratory animal. Popular pets are often considered to have attractive/ cute appearances, inte ... by local ranchers to destroy rodents. References ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


Grison
A grison (, ) is any mustelid in the genus ''Galictis''. Native to Central and South America, the genus contains two extant species: the greater grison (''Galictis vittata''), which is found widely in South America, through Central America to southern Mexico; and the lesser grison (''Galictis cuja''), which is restricted to the southern half of South America. Names The generic name ''Galictis'' joins two Greek words: (, "weasel") and (, marten/weasel). Compare the word '' Galidictis'' (a mongoose genus). The common name ' is from a French word for "gray", a variant of , also meaning "gray". "French, from gray, from Middle French, from " Locally, in Spanish, it is referred to as a (literally "little ferret") or . In Portuguese, it is a . Description Grisons measure up to in length, and weigh between . The lesser grison is slightly smaller than the greater grison. Grisons generally resemble a honey badger, but with a smaller, thinner body. The pelage along the back ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  




Patagonian Weasel
The Patagonian weasel (''Lyncodon patagonicus'') is a small mustelid that is the only member of the genus ''Lyncodon''. Its geographic range is the Pampas of western Argentina and sections of Chile. An early mention of the animal is in the Journal of Syms Covington, who sailed with Charles Darwin on his epic voyage aboard '' HMS Beagle''. Description The Patagonian weasel has a head and body length of , with a tail that is . Its fur is whitish with black and dark brown tones mixed in. It has small ears, short legs and a bushy tail. The animal has not been thoroughly studied in the wild, and knowledge of its behavioral patterns is unsure. It reportedly has been kept as a working pet A pet, or companion animal, is an animal kept primarily for a person's company or entertainment rather than as a working animal, livestock, or a laboratory animal. Popular pets are often considered to have attractive/ cute appearances, inte ... by local ranchers to destroy rodents. Referenc ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]