The striped weasel can climb very well, but it usually stays on the ground. (Kingdon 1977). The only time the animal is found to leave the burrow is when it is goes hunting. The African striped weasel is one of the smallest mammalian carnivores in Africa, and has an elongated body and short legs. Siberian weasel (Mustela sibirica) Back-striped weasel (Mustela strigidorsa) Egyptian weasel (Mustela subpalmata) Weasels in Different Cultures. New!! A terrestrial biome. The African striped weasel is one of the smallest mammalian carnivores in Africa, and has an elongated body and short legs. [2][5] Females give birth to a single litter of two or three young after a gestation period of 30 days. The Mammals of South West Africa. They inhabit savannah habitats but may also be found in grasslands and forests. The African striped weasel is one of the smallest mammalian carnivores in Africa, and has an elongated body and short legs. Classification, To cite this page: Synapomorphy of the Bilateria. Endothermy is a synapomorphy of the Mammalia, although it may have arisen in a (now extinct) synapsid ancestor; the fossil record does not distinguish these possibilities. : The an­i­mal's body is sleek and long, and has very short legs (King­don 1977). Males are larger than females, weighing an average of 339 g (12.0 oz), compared with 251 g (8.9 oz). gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate), The Mammals of Rhodesia, Zambia and Malawi, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, http://www.press.jhu.edu/books/walkers_mammals_of_the_world, © 2020 Regents of the University of Michigan. They will also occasionally feed on birds and eggs. Dealers reported that the species, which is highly prized in traditional medicine (Rowe-Rowe 1990, 1992; N.L. Synonyms for African Striped Weasel in Free Thesaurus. The Animal Diversity Web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students. Accessed African Striped Weasel (Tamara Henson) African Striped Weasel (Tamara Henson)/Version 1. Their courtship patterns are thought to be similar to the ferret (/Mustela putorius/), and involves much growling. The females are polyestrous. 11/19/99 the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic. Nonetheless, it is not considered to be endangered (Shortridge 1934) (Nowak 1997)(WCMC). It eats mainly small mammals (rodents, rats, mole rats, etc.) It has been found in forest edge, grassland, and marsh regions (Nowak 1997). Contributor Galleries This animal is sometimes characterized as being a part of the genus Poecilictis, and its coloration resembles that of the striped polecat. [1] They commonly live below 1,500 m (4,900 ft) elevation, but may occasionally be found as high as 2,200 m (7,200 ft).[2]. London: Collins. Most of the species diversity is found in southeast Asia. The African striped weasel is long and sleek, has very short legs and is the smallest carnivore in Africa. Both sexes have been found to grab the mates neck and drag it around like it were a prey (Kingdon 1977). The top of the head is white, continuing in a thick stripe down the back where there are both black and white longitudinal stripes, and the tail is totally white. It is able to enter any burrow that its head can fit into. The African striped weasel (Poecilogale albinucha) is found in Africa south of the Congo Basin. Adults have a head-body length of 27 to 32 cm (11 to 13 in), with the tail adding a further 16 to 20 cm (6.3 to 7.9 in). Poecilogale albinucha. [citation needed], 10.1644/1545-1410(2001)681<0001:PA>2.0.CO;2, "Poecilogale albinucha (African striped weasel)", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=African_striped_weasel&oldid=989917355, Mammals of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2020, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 21 November 2020, at 19:29. They can dig a burrow very quickly, or they may take over a rodent's burrow or termite mound and modify it to their needs. having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror-image halves. It looks very similar to, and is often confused with, the zorilla (/Ictonyx striatus/), and it is argued that it may be a mimic (Kingdon 1977). While ADW staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable, we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control. The weasel is generally solitary,[3] but individuals sometimes pair up to dig burrows. They are black in colour with a white patch on the top of their head that splits into white stripes that run along their back and join at the base of their tail. Search in feature Savannas are grasslands with scattered individual trees that do not form a closed canopy. They commonly live below 4,900 ft (1,500 m) elevation but may often be seen as high as 7,200 ft (2,200 m). "Walker's Mammals of the World Online" (On-line). Diet. They are found from the Democratic Republic of the Congo across to Kenya in the north, and as far south as southern South Africa. The striped weasel is beneficial to humans because of the service they provide by killing rats, mice, springhares, locusts and their larvae, all of which may damage crops. This animal is sometimes characterized as being a part of the genus Poecilictis, and its coloration resembles that of the striped … A civet (/ ˈ s ɪ v ɪ t /) is a small, lean, mostly nocturnal mammal native to tropical Asia and Africa, especially the tropical forests.The term civet applies to over a dozen different mammal species. (Nowak 1977) (Smithers 1966). Litters consist of 1-3 young, and the gestation period is 31-33 days. They reach the full adult size at 20 weeks, and are sexually mature at eight months. They are also thought to have different vocalizations for threat, defense, and greeting (Channing and Rowe-Rowe 1977). "Poecilogale albinucha" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Prey may be hunted by scent or by opening an animal's tunnel and waiting for it to come out. Convergent in birds. Accessed [2], The young are born in a burrow, and are initially blind and hairless, weighing just 4 g (0.14 oz) each. African Striped Weasel synonyms, African Striped Weasel pronunciation, African Striped Weasel translation, English dictionary definition of African Striped Weasel. A male may mate at 33 months, and a female may have her first litter at 19 months (Nowak 1997). Animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides, as well as anterior and posterior ends. 1977. … When frightened, it may also bounce up and down on its forefeet with the back feet on the ground, and erect its tail hairs. The head and body measure 250-360mm, and the tail is 130-230mm. The African Weasel … The African striped weasel (Poecilogale albinucha), the lone member of its genus, is a small, black and white weasel native to sub-Saharan Africa. The claws are sharp and curved, and the tail is long and bushy. Males are larger than females, weighing an average of 339 g (12.0 oz), compared with 251 g (8.9 oz). The African striped weasel (Poecilogale albinucha), the lone member of its genus, is a small, black and white weasel native to sub-Saharan Africa. The striped weasel may be found in a variety of different habitats. London: William Heinemann Ltd. Smithers, R. 1966. The African striped weasel (Poecilogale albinucha), the lone member of its genus, is a small, black and white weasel native to sub-Saharan Africa. Additional support has come from the Marisla Foundation, UM College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, Museum of Zoology, and Information and Technology Services. After the initial strike, they kill by whipping their own body and kicking, making use of their thin, lithe, muscular build to stun and tear the prey item. African striped weasels are nocturnal hunters of small mammals, birds, and reptiles, but feed almost entirely on rodents of their own size or smaller. Channing, A., D. Rowe-Rowe. Credits. 1997. Status. [2], The head is elongated, with small eyes, a short, broad snout, and short ears. Extensive savannas are found in parts of subtropical and tropical Africa and South America, and in Australia. Head and body length is about 350 mm as an adult, with a 200 mm tail. Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes. at http://www.wcmc.org.UK/. [3] They sometimes stores its prey in their burrow instead of eating it immediately. Topics 1 synonym for Poecilogale: genus Poecilogale. The striped weasel inhabits a wide range throughout Africa, but its numbers are not very great. The striped weasel is usually silent, but will produce a loud growl/shriek when alarmed. They are found in The Afrotropics. See more » Alaska. Z. Tierpsychol, 44: 283-293. Additionally, their skins are used by some African tribes in ceremonial costumes or ornaments. Weasels are adaptable and live all over the world. Similar in habit to weasels of the genus Mustela, it is striped in light yellow and … The African Weasel weighs about 250-350 gr. African Striped Weasels have a body length between 25 and 35 cms (10 - 14 inches), a tail length between 15 and 23 cms (6 - 9 inches) and they weigh between 225 and 350 g (8 - 13 oz). Taxon Information This material is based upon work supported by the A grassland with scattered trees or scattered clumps of trees, a type of community intermediate between grassland and forest. The African striped weasel is one of the smallest mammalian carnivores in Africa, and has an elongated body and short legs. Births of captive animals were found to occur from September to April (Nowak 1977). Accessed February 11, 2021 at https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Poecilogale_albinucha/. African Striped Weasel Skull. New York: Academic Press. In captive individuals, the white stripe color may vary from light yellow to deep buff. ADW doesn't cover all species in the world, nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe. The burrow varies in length, but always has a rounded chamber at the end that the animal uses to store dead prey. data), was becoming scarcer as there were fewer animals in the wild. Similar in habit to weasels of the genus Mustela, it is striped in light yellow and … Though we edit our accounts for accuracy, we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts. [2], African striped weasels inhabit much of Africa south of the equator. Phys­i­cal De­scrip­tion. Versions of African Striped Weasel (Tamara Henson) African Striped Weasel (Tamara Henson) • Version 1. See also Tropical savanna and grassland biome. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images The animal will release an odor from its anal glands when it is attacked or under stress. Available. Wildscreen's Arkive project was launched in 2003 and grew to become the world's biggest encyclopaedia of life on Earth. Eyesight does not play a major role in hunting, but it is used in everyday life and spatial orientation (Kingdon 1977). The carnassial teeth are short, and the canine teeth long. Appearance. Generally, they are found in regions that support their main prey, small mammals (Kingdon). The African clawless otter is found from Senegal through most of West Africa to Ethiopia, and south to South Africa. They occur from Kenya to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Africa. The African striped weasel (Poecilogale albinucha), the lone member of genus Poecilogale, is a small black and white weasel native to sub-Saharan Africa.It looks very much like a striped polecat, but it is much thinner and has shorter hair.It is a sleek, black color with a white tail and four white stripes running down its back. Reproduction is dioecious. Discover How Long African Striped Weasel Lives. [4], Mating occurs between spring and summer, and includes at least three bouts of copulation, each lasting 60 to 80 minutes, in a single 24-hour period. [5], According to African folklore, if one cuts off the nose of a weasel, it will grow back two shades lighter in colour, but it will bring misfortune to your family and lead to a poor harvest. Fire and grazing are important in the long-term maintenance of grasslands. Countries of the World - Namibia Remake. Their canine teeth erupt at five weeks, and their eyes open after seven weeks. The African striped weasel (Poecilogale albinucha) is found in Africa south of the Congo Basin. Like many other mustelids, the African striped weasel has well-developed scent glands in the perineal region that can spray a noxious fluid when the animal feels threatened. "World Conservation Monitoring Centre" (On-line). Jun 20, 2013. This is likely to avoid being seen by predators like owls. having the capacity to move from one place to another. * Museum quality replica * Made in USA The African striped weasel (Poecilogale albinucha) is found in Africa south of the Congo Basin. The striped weasel is nocturnal and fossorial. Mountain weasels are found in in central and east Asia and the African striped weasel is found, predictably, in Africa.The most common weasel is the short-tailed weasel. The striped weasel is carnivorous. The Mammals of Rhodesia, Zambia and Malawi. African striped weasels can be found in much of Africa south of the equator. Vegetation is made up mostly of grasses, the height and species diversity of which depend largely on the amount of moisture available. [3] The weasels hunt primarily by scent, attacking prey with a sudden lunge and striking at the back of the neck. at http://www.press.jhu.edu/books/walkers_mammals_of_the_world. What are synonyms for African Striped Weasel? 11/19/99 Help us improve the site by taking our survey. Noun 1. It is said that "The weasel bites its victim, usually a rodent, at the back of the neck and, rolling over on to its back, clamps part of the rat or mouse between its jaws and forepaws, meanwhile racking the victim's body with well co-ordinated kicks that are discharged by means of the powerful spasms of the weasel's long back." The Animal Diversity Web team is excited to announce ADW Pocket Guides! Females have two pairs of mammae (Nowak 1997).