A strikingly marked black and white weasel, males gen­erally larger than females. Elongated with rather bushy tail. Shaggy coated. Above white with three distinct black stripes running along the back joined at the head behind the ears and again at the base of the tail. Central stripe broadens toward the rear. After meeting at the base of the tail, the stripe contin­ues along the top edge of the tail. Below, legs and feet black. Small, white ears with black tips. Band runs across forehead between eyes and ears, often incomplete. Claws of front feet long and strong. Tail shaggy, black at base and often at tip. Remainder black and white but propor­tions variable.

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. (Ansell, 1960; Bere, 1962; Happold, 1987; Smithers, 1986)

Biogeographic Regions: ethiopian (Native )

2 records. Latest in 2005 (Gebel Elba).

Localized (southern Eastern Desert). AOO=8.4 km². 1 location.

Narrow (sub-Saharan Africa).

Striped polecats closely resemble the North American skunk. These small carnivores have glossy, coarse black fur with distinctive white spots on the face. There is a spot on the forehead and one on each cheek, 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.

These polecats 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 (another close relative of the polecat), and the cutting edges of the sheering teeth are less developed. (Kingdom, 1977; Meester, 1971)

Average mass: 1.02-1.4 kg.

Average length: 28-30 cm.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry

Sexual Dimorphism: male larger

Average mass: 910 g.

Length 34 cm, weight 1.2–1.4 kg.

Identified as ssp erythreae de Winton by Osborn & Helmy (1980).

• Terrestrial

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. (Ansell, 1960; Bere, 1962; Happold, 1987; Smithers, 1986)

Habitat Regions: temperate ; tropical ; terrestrial

Terrestrial Biomes: desert or dune ; forest ; scrub forest ; mountains

Wetlands: swamp

Inhibits dry desert areas with acacia, from Red Sea coast to mountains.

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. They avoid eating vegetable matter.

Polecats are particularly prevalent on rangelands, where the grazing behavior of wild herbivores and domestic livestock tends to keep the grass short. This allows striped polecats to feed on beetles, their larvae, and mice. Where there is an abundance of dung and fodder for beetles and mice to eat, striped polecats flourish because of the abundance of prey (Delany, 1979; Kingdom, 1977)

Animal Foods: mammals; amphibians; reptiles; eggs; insects

Primary Diet: carnivore (Eats terrestrial vertebrates, Eats eggs, Insectivore )

This predator controls populations of small rodents, especially in agricultural areas, where rodents feed on crops and dung of farm animals.

Specific reports of predation on this species are absent in the literature. However, striped polecats are reportedly pestered by domestic dogs. They may also occasionally be considered as prey items by larger African carnivores.

Striped polecats have a variety of behaviors and physical features which may be evolutionary responses to predation. A polecat will make frequent stops or reversals in direction while moving about. These changes in direction are instantaneous. This might give the impression that they posses quick reflexes, and may deter predators. It is likely that such changes in direction will also avert attack from any predator, especially avian predators, which may be closing in on the polecat.

When bothered by another animal, most commonly dogs, a striped polecat will growl and bark and fluff up its tail. If this does not drive the attacker away, the growling rises to a high pitched scream. The polecat will turn around and present its attacker with a squirt from its well-developed anal glands. (Like the skunks found in North America, striped polecats can spray a large amount of powerfully odorous secretions from their anal glands.) If the odor does not deter the assailant, a polecat may feign death. Anal gland secretions, which linger on the fur of a polecat, may then serve to further deter predators because they have a terrible taste. A predator that tries to bite a polecat may decide that the polecat will make a terrible-tasting meal and subsequently release it.

These beasts commonly feign death when actually attacked. It is dificult to speculate on how that may aid them in detering a predator, as it would seem to make them easier to consume. However, this may allow the predator to get a good taste of their anal gland secretions and allow them the convenience to decide to release the zorilla uneaten.

(Nowak, 1999; Kingdom, 1977; Meester, 1971)

Known Predators:

• domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris)
• birds (Aves)
• large carnivores (Carnivora)

Largely nocturnal emerging at dusk. Spends day in burrow (self-dug or commandeered) or den in rock crevice or even build­ings. Good swimmer and tree climber. Food includes small mammals, birds, lizards, eggs, and large insects. Reported capable of killing large snakes. Generally solitary. Has stink glands and uses the same threat display as Striped Weasel. Mate in spring-summer and gives birth to 1-4 in Sept-Dec after gestation of 6 weeks. Suckle for 18 weeks and reach sexual maturity after 20-30 weeks. Recorded lifespand in captivity 13 yr 4 m.

The lifespan of wild zorillas has not been reported. However, one captive specimen reportedly lived for 13 years and 4 months. (Nowak, 1999)

Range lifespan

Status: captivity: 13.3 (high) years.

Average lifespan

Status: captivity: 13.3 years.

The mating system of this species is unknown. These animals are solitary in the wild. Male encounters are always aggressive. Males and females only tolerate one another only during the mating season.

Because males are larger than females and are aggressive toward one another, it is likely that there is some competition between them for mates. Species in which males are larger than females generally display some level of polygyny.

Zorillas are generally intollerant of one another except during the mating season, when males and females can interact without aggression. 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. (Nowak, 1999)

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 zorillas 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, although some females in captivity have given birth at an age of 10 weeks. (Kingdom, 1977; Meester, 1971)

Breeding season: Breeding occurs in early spring through late summer.

Range number of offspring: 1 to 4.

Average gestation period: 36 days.

Average weaning age: 18 weeks.

Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 10 to 30 weeks.

Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 10 to 30 weeks.

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (Internal ); viviparous

Average birth mass: 15 g.

Average gestation period: 36 days.

Average number of offspring: 2.

Parental care in this species has not been described in the literature. However, because of the solitary nature of the species, it is reasonable to assume that the male is not involved in rearing the young. Females give birth to their young in burrows. Young are altricial, and therefore require extensive care until they are able to survive on their own. Females nurse young until they are about 18 weeks old. (Nowak, 1999)

Parental Investment: altricial ; female parental care

Zorillas have no special conservation status.

US Federal List: no special status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

Native, resident?

Data Deficient.

Very rare.

Polecats around farms will prey on small livestock like rabbits, chickens, and chicken eggs.

Negative Impacts: crop pest

Striped polecats are very common on big sheep farms and ranches of the Kenyan highlands. They perform an extremely important role in the pastures by keeping down the number of beetle larvae that feed on roots and grasses. Farmers like polecats because they also eat a large proportion of the field rats and mice which ruin crops. (Kingdom, 1977; Meester, 1971)

Striped polecats may be kept as pets if the anal glands are removed to keep down objectionable odors. Interestingly, there is at least one report of native peoples using the anal gland secretions of these animals as a perfume (Kingdom, 1977). (One must wonder whether this was because the people liked the way the polecats smelled, or if wearing polecat scent might be a way to cloak their own human odors from other animals, preventing those animals from detecting human presence — a useful hunting strategy.)

Positive Impacts: controls pest population