Ictonyx striatus, Perry, 1810
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.5714044 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5714099 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/038F87D4-CA42-FFAC-CFE4-30B7F901FE26 |
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treatment provided by |
Conny |
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scientific name |
Ictonyx striatus |
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25. View On
Zorilla
French: Zorille commune / German: Zorilla / Spanish: Hurén estriado
Other common names: Striped Polecat
Taxonomy. Bradypus striatus Perry, 1810 View in CoL ,
South Africa.
As many as twenty-two subspecies have been proposed, but a taxonomic revision is needed.
Distribution. Sub-Saharan Africa from Mauritania and Senegal in the W to Sudan, Ethiopia and Djibouti in the E and S to South Africa. Absent from W & C African rainforests. View Figure
Descriptive notes. Head-body 28-38 cm (males), 28-34 cm (females), tail 16.5-28 cm (males), 17- 5—28 cm (females); weight 0-80.1- 20 kg (males), 0-42. 0-75 kg (females), adult males are 50% heavier than females. The Zorilla has a black pelage with four white dorsal stripes that unite on the top of the neck. There are three white patches on the head. The undersides and limbs are black, and the tail is a mixture of black and white hairs. The soles of the feet are naked; there are claws on all the feet, but they are longer and straighter on the forefeet. There are three pairs of mammae. The skull is heavily built, the rostrum is short and blunt, and the sagittal crest is poorly defined or absent. Dental formula: 13/3, C 1/1, P3/3.M1/2=54,
Habitat. Zorillas are found in a wide variety of habitats, including mountains, sand plains, forest, swamps,riverine woodlands, floodplains, grasslands, coastal hummocks, and town gardens.
Food and Feeding. The diet is mainly insects and small rodents, but birds, eggs, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates are also eaten. In South Africa, the percentage occurrence of food items in 21 stomachs was 62% insects, 38% mammals, 10% birds, 10% arachnids, 5% frogs, and 5% myriapods. In the Cape Province, stomachs contained birds, mammals, reptiles, and insects (Coleoptera, Coleoptera larvae, Orthoptera, Lepidoptera, and Diptera). One stomach from Kalahari National Park, South Africa, contained mostly reptile remains. In Botswana, twelve stomachs contained insects, reptiles, and small mammals. Most prey are detected by sight or smell, and captured after stalking or short chases. Larger mammals, such as ground squirrels (Xerus) and spring hares, are followed to their burrows and killed. Zorillas often hunt for invertebrates in loose soil, plant debris, and at the base of grass tufts. Typically, a Zorilla pushesits nose into loose soil and sniffs audibly. When food is detected,it is excavated with the forefeet. Slow prey are bitten directly, whereas faster-moving prey, such as moths, mantids, or beetles, may either be bitten or pinned to the ground with a forefoot and eaten head first. All parts of insects are eaten. Rats (Rattus) are located mainly by sight. On occasion, rats are stalked and quickly captured or are chased. They are captured either by direct biting or by being pinned to the ground with the forefeet and then bitten. Mostkilling bites are directed at the back of the neck, head, or chest. Rats larger than 140 g usually require more bites and pinning with the forefeet. Occasionally, Zorillas roll while biting. Large rats are eaten by biting at the flesh and holding the skin with the forefeet. Birds presented to captive Zorillas are quickly and easily killed by a bite at the head, and then eaten head first. Zorillas will consume young birds completely, but they leave most ofthe feathers, feet, and tibia of mature birds. The contents of broken eggs are readily consumed, but captive Zorillas experience initial difficulty with unbroken eggs. Eventually, they learn to open them by biting or rolling the egg against a hard object such as a rock. Once cracked, the egg is easily opened and consumed. Zorillas will kill snakes and can attack large cobras. Snakes are approached cautiously and bitten on the back several times, after which the Zorilla retreats rapidly. Each bite is directed to the posterior half of the snake and is accompanied by vigorous shaking. After four or five such attacks, the Zorilla pins the snake to the ground with the forefeet, and repeatedly bites 10-15 cm from the head. Some of the bites involve vigorous shaking. Most snakes are eaten head first, but occasionally the tail or even flanks may be consumed first. Lizards are captured following short chases, pinned to the ground with the forefeet, and killed by a bite at the head. Lizards are entirely consumed and eaten head first. Amphibians are pinned to the ground with the forefeet and killed by biting the head and neck region; all parts of amphibians are eaten.
Activity pattern. Nocturnal. Rest sites are in holes, crevices, hollow logs, or under buildings. Zorillas can dig their own burrows, but often use those dug by other animals.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. Terrestrial, but can climb and swim well. Zorillas generally are solitary, but pairs may be seen. Larger groups are rare, and usually comprise a female and her young. Adult males and females are together only during mating, and adult males are intolerant of other males.
Breeding. Mating occurs in the spring. The young are born in late spring or summer, after a short gestation of 36 days. Littersize is two to three. Females have one litter per year, but may breed again if the first litter is lost early. The young are born blind and hairless; color patterns appear after one week. The eyes open after 40 days and the young start to eat solid food at c. 33 days, when their canine teeth erupt; they can kill mice at 60 days. Adultsize is reached at 20 weeks.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern in The IUCN Red List. Zorillas are considered common throughout their range. They are not protected outside of national parks, where the most common threat is free-roaming domestic dogs.
Bibliography. Lariviere (2002a), Rowe-Rowe (1978a, 1978b, 1978c), Smithers & Chimimba (2005), Stuart (1981), Wozencraft (2005).
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.
