by ExFmemUrikaruus Oct. 2012
- 1O4A0093.JPG (72.73 KiB) Viewed 598 times
Africa Wild Challenge - MAMMAL Checklist of Kgalagadi
Two in One: Giraffe and Lion - 20 Points
Two in One - Lion and Giraffe
by ExFmem
Urikaruus Oct. 2012
by Dindingwe
by ExFmemUrikaruus Oct. 2012
by Dindingwe
Two in One - Leopard and Springbok - 25 Points
Two in One - Leopard and Springbok
by ExFmem
Auchterlonie Female
Lower Dune Rd & Auob Main Rd Oct. 2013
by Mel
Dakotah
South of Montrose, October 2016
by nan
Itumeleng
29.1.2016 - 14th
by ExFmemAuchterlonie Female
Lower Dune Rd & Auob Main Rd Oct. 2013
by MelDakotah
South of Montrose, October 2016
by nanItumeleng
29.1.2016 - 14th
Two in One - Black-backed Jackal and Wildebeest: 10 Points
Two in One - Black-backed Jackal and Wildebeest
Kannaguass area Oct. 2009
by Mel
Rooikop, October 2012
by nan
27.1.2012
Kannaguass area Oct. 2009
by MelRooikop, October 2012
by nan27.1.2012
Two in One: Cheetah and Giraffe - 25 Points
Two in One - Cheetah and Giraffe
by ExFmem
Headed for one of the Loop waterholes Oct. 2010
by nan
26.1.2016 Auob river - before KTC
by ExFmemHeaded for one of the Loop waterholes Oct. 2010
by nan26.1.2016 Auob river - before KTC
Striped polecat: 50 Points
Striped polecat
Ictonyx striatus
Family Mustelidae (Otters, Honey Badger, Weasels & Polecat)
Link to photos of polecats:
http://www.arkive.org/zorilla/ictonyx-s ... 67941.html
The striped polecat is also called the African polecat, zoril, zorille, zorilla, Cape polecat, and African skunk. The name "zorilla" comes from the word "zorro", which in Spanish means "fox".
Distribution
Striped polecats are found throughout the African continent. They are distributed in all habitats occurring between the Mauritanian coast and the coast of Sudan, and southward to the South African coast.
Habitat
Striped polecats inhabit a wide variety of habitats. Although they are most commonly found in African savannas and semi-arid environments, they can also be found anywhere from the coastal sand dunes of the Namib desert, to the big rainfall areas of the District of Zimbabwe, which has forests, high mountains, and even swamps.
Description
Striped polecats closely resemble the North American skunk and are close relatives of the African weasel, but differs in that it is larger, the coat hairs are longer, and that it has three characteristic white dots on the head.
These small carnivores have glossy, coarse black fur with a distinctive white spot on the forehead, one on each cheek at the base of the ears, and the black ears have white tips. Four broad white stripes extend down the body from the top of the head to the tip of the tail.
The body length can vary between 28 and 30 cm, not including the tail, which can add an extra 20 to 30 cm to the total length. Males are usually larger than females, weighing in at about 1.4 kg with females down at about 1.02 kg.
They have long sharp claws on the forepaws, which are mainly adapted for digging, but are also useful when climbing trees. The teeth are shorter than the teeth of weasels and the cutting edges of the sheering teeth are less developed.
Diet
Striped polecats are carnivores. They eat a wide variety of small rodents, including rats, mice, and spring hares. They also eat frogs, lizards, snakes, birds, bird eggs, and beetles.
Lifestyle and Reproduction
The mating system of this species is unknown. These animals are solitary in the wild. It is nocturnal, hunting mostly at night. During the day it will burrow into the brush or sleep in the burrows of other animals.
Zorillas are generally intolerant of one another except during the mating season, when males and females can interact without aggression. Male encounters are always aggressive. Studies of captive animals indicate that the breeding season is from early spring to late summer. All litters were born between September and December. Females generally produced only one litter in a season, but if all of her babies died young, a female could produce another litter before the end of the breeding season.
The mother usually gives birth to a litter ranging from 1 to 4 young. The young are born in burrows during the mid-summer months after a 6 week gestation period. Weighing in at 15 g, a newborn is blind and hairless with pink skin. Short fur begins to cover their body at 21 days after birth. The canine teeth don't grow out until day 32, and they don't open their eyes until they are between 35 and 42 days old. Although they can kill their own prey at 9 weeks of age, they aren't completely weaned until they are 18 weeks old. Sexual maturity is reached between the 20th and 30th week.
Defense mechanisms
The striped polecat is an aggressive and very territorial animal. It marks its territory with its feces and through the anal emission of fumes. These fumes serve as a defense against predators, in a similar manner as employed by skunks. The emissions, released by anal stink glands, temporarily blind their adversaries and irritate the mucous membranes resulting in an intense burning sensation. Before spraying the opponent with this noxious fluid, the striped polecat will often take a threat stance with its back arched, rear end facing the opponent, and tail straight up in the air.
Communication
Striped polecats have been known to communicate with each other using a vast myriad of verbal signals and calls. Growls are used to act as a warning to possible predators, competitors, or other enemies to back off. High pitched screams have been observed as signifying situations of high aggression or accompanying the spraying of anal emissions. An undulating high to low pitched scream has been used to convey surrender or submission to an adversary. This call has been noted to accompany the subsequent release of the loser. Conversely, a quieter undulating call has been interpreted as functioning as a friendly salutation. Mating calls are common forms of communication between the sexes. Finally, young polecats often have a specific set of calls and signals, used when they are in adolescence, either signifying a feeling of distress or joy depending on if the mother is absent or present.
Ictonyx striatus
Family Mustelidae (Otters, Honey Badger, Weasels & Polecat)
Link to photos of polecats:
http://www.arkive.org/zorilla/ictonyx-s ... 67941.html
The striped polecat is also called the African polecat, zoril, zorille, zorilla, Cape polecat, and African skunk. The name "zorilla" comes from the word "zorro", which in Spanish means "fox".
Distribution
Striped polecats are found throughout the African continent. They are distributed in all habitats occurring between the Mauritanian coast and the coast of Sudan, and southward to the South African coast.
Habitat
Striped polecats inhabit a wide variety of habitats. Although they are most commonly found in African savannas and semi-arid environments, they can also be found anywhere from the coastal sand dunes of the Namib desert, to the big rainfall areas of the District of Zimbabwe, which has forests, high mountains, and even swamps.
Description
Striped polecats closely resemble the North American skunk and are close relatives of the African weasel, but differs in that it is larger, the coat hairs are longer, and that it has three characteristic white dots on the head.
These small carnivores have glossy, coarse black fur with a distinctive white spot on the forehead, one on each cheek at the base of the ears, and the black ears have white tips. Four broad white stripes extend down the body from the top of the head to the tip of the tail.
The body length can vary between 28 and 30 cm, not including the tail, which can add an extra 20 to 30 cm to the total length. Males are usually larger than females, weighing in at about 1.4 kg with females down at about 1.02 kg.
They have long sharp claws on the forepaws, which are mainly adapted for digging, but are also useful when climbing trees. The teeth are shorter than the teeth of weasels and the cutting edges of the sheering teeth are less developed.
Diet
Striped polecats are carnivores. They eat a wide variety of small rodents, including rats, mice, and spring hares. They also eat frogs, lizards, snakes, birds, bird eggs, and beetles.
Lifestyle and Reproduction
The mating system of this species is unknown. These animals are solitary in the wild. It is nocturnal, hunting mostly at night. During the day it will burrow into the brush or sleep in the burrows of other animals.
Zorillas are generally intolerant of one another except during the mating season, when males and females can interact without aggression. Male encounters are always aggressive. Studies of captive animals indicate that the breeding season is from early spring to late summer. All litters were born between September and December. Females generally produced only one litter in a season, but if all of her babies died young, a female could produce another litter before the end of the breeding season.
The mother usually gives birth to a litter ranging from 1 to 4 young. The young are born in burrows during the mid-summer months after a 6 week gestation period. Weighing in at 15 g, a newborn is blind and hairless with pink skin. Short fur begins to cover their body at 21 days after birth. The canine teeth don't grow out until day 32, and they don't open their eyes until they are between 35 and 42 days old. Although they can kill their own prey at 9 weeks of age, they aren't completely weaned until they are 18 weeks old. Sexual maturity is reached between the 20th and 30th week.
Defense mechanisms
The striped polecat is an aggressive and very territorial animal. It marks its territory with its feces and through the anal emission of fumes. These fumes serve as a defense against predators, in a similar manner as employed by skunks. The emissions, released by anal stink glands, temporarily blind their adversaries and irritate the mucous membranes resulting in an intense burning sensation. Before spraying the opponent with this noxious fluid, the striped polecat will often take a threat stance with its back arched, rear end facing the opponent, and tail straight up in the air.
Communication
Striped polecats have been known to communicate with each other using a vast myriad of verbal signals and calls. Growls are used to act as a warning to possible predators, competitors, or other enemies to back off. High pitched screams have been observed as signifying situations of high aggression or accompanying the spraying of anal emissions. An undulating high to low pitched scream has been used to convey surrender or submission to an adversary. This call has been noted to accompany the subsequent release of the loser. Conversely, a quieter undulating call has been interpreted as functioning as a friendly salutation. Mating calls are common forms of communication between the sexes. Finally, young polecats often have a specific set of calls and signals, used when they are in adolescence, either signifying a feeling of distress or joy depending on if the mother is absent or present.
-
nan
- Posts: 26440
- Joined: Thu May 31, 2012 9:41 pm
- Country: Switzerland
- Location: Central Europe
- Contact:
Two in One: Honey Badger and Red Hartebeest - 25 Points
Two in One: Honey Badger and Red Hartebeest
by nan
no fears 
by nan no fears
Last edited by nan on Fri Oct 28, 2016 9:53 am, edited 1 time in total.
Kgalagadi lover… for ever
https://safrounet.piwigo.com/
https://safrounet.piwigo.com/
-
Duke
Two in One: BBJ & Four-Striped Grass Mouse 25 Points
Two in One: Black-backed Jackal and Four-Striped Grass Mouse
by Duke
by nan
by Dukeby nan
- IMGL5868%20(640x443).jpg (313.68 KiB) Viewed 821 times
-
Mel
- Global Moderator
- Posts: 27438
- Joined: Sat May 19, 2012 12:31 pm
- Country: Germany
- Location: Föhr
- Contact:
2 in 1: Four-Striped Grass Mouse & Yellow Mongoose 25 Points
Two in One: Four-Striped Grass Mouse and Yellow Mongoose
by Mel
by MelGod put me on earth to accomplish a certain amount of things. Right now I'm so far behind that I'll never die.
Two in One: Brown Hyena and Wildebeest - 25 Points
Two in One: Brown Hyena and Wildebeest
by Mel
Lijersdraai, October 2016
by ExFmem
Sept. 23, 2023 KijKij
by Mel
Lijersdraai, October 2016
by ExFmem
- IMG-8670-2.jpg (291.87 KiB) Viewed 248 times
Sept. 23, 2023 KijKij
Two in One: Honey Badger and Oryx - 25 Points
Two in One: Honey Badger and Oryx
by Toko
by ExFmem
01/10/2019 at Sitzas
by Toko01/10/2019 at Sitzas