White-necked weasel

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White-necked weasel
Whitenapedweasellg2.jpg

White- naped weasel ( Poecilogale albinucha )

Systematics
Subordination : Canine (Caniformia)
Superfamily : Marten relatives (Musteloidea)
Family : Marten (Mustelidae)
Subfamily : Ictonychinae
Genre : Poecilogals
Type : White-necked weasel
Scientific name of the  genus
Poecilogals
Thomas , 1883
Scientific name of the  species
Poecilogale albinucha
( Gray , 1864)
Distribution area according to IUCN

The white- naped weasel ( Poecilogale albinucha ) is a species of predator from the marten family (Mustelidae) living in Africa .

features

White-necked weasels have an extremely elongated body with very short limbs. Their fur is predominantly black, the head and the top of the neck are white, four white longitudinal stripes run along the back to the tail, which is also white. These animals reach a head body length of 25 to 36 centimeters, a tail length of 13 to 23 centimeters and a weight of 230 to 380 grams, with males being significantly heavier than females.

distribution and habitat

White-naped weasels are native to eastern and southern Africa , and their range extends from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda to South Africa . They inhabit a range of habitats including forest edge areas, grasslands, and marshland.

Way of life

Weißnackenwiesel are nocturnal, during the day they hide under the ground in burrows that they have dug themselves or taken over from other animals. When hunting, they usually stay on the ground, they rarely climb. Usually they live solitary, sometimes they can be seen in family groups. In case of threat, they can create a penetrating smell with their anal glands , but this is not as effective as with the closely related zorillas .

nutrition

These animals are carnivores. Their slim shape helps them to get into the tightest burrows to get their prey. Rodents such as mice and sand graves are on their menu , but also birds and insects . They are also skilled snake hunters who use a tactic similar to mongoose : they avoid the snakes that strike until they are tired and easier to catch.

Prey animals are killed with a neck bite. However, they do not eat their prey immediately, but drag it into their den. Sometimes they store supplies there too.

Reproduction

After a gestation period of around 31 to 33 days, the female gives birth to one to three young between September and April. They are initially blind and helpless, after 35 days they eat solid food for the first time, after 50 days their eyes open and after around 80 days they are finally weaned.

Weißnackenwiesel and people

These animals are popular as eaters of rodents classified as pests. Their fur is used by some African tribes for ceremonial purposes, with the Zulu some parts of the body are said to have healing powers. The main threat is the loss of habitat through conversion into agricultural land, but overall they are not yet threatened. The IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, lists them in its Red List of Endangered Species as not endangered (“Least Concern”).

literature

  • Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World . Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999 ISBN 0-8018-5789-9

Web links

Commons : Poecilogale albinucha  - collection of images, videos and audio files