Striped polecats (Ictonyx striatus), or the African zorilla, are little predators that appear like North American skunks however aren’t. They’re more carefully associated to weasels and have smaller sized, slim bodies.
There are a lot of enjoyable truths about this animal, like what they in fact utilize a stink gland for, and more. Let’s take a better take a look at the striped polecat.
1. Striped Polecats Are the Skunk’s Doppelgänger
(Credit: Karel Bock/Getty Images)
If a striped polecat took a look at a North American skunk or vice versa, they may believe they were searching in a mirror. Striped polecats have a coarse, thick black coat with white spots and stripes. The distinction in between their coat lies in the patterns of their coloring. Striped polecats have a white spot on their foreheads and white below their ears.
4 thick white stripes line the animal’s body, and they have long claws. Skunks do not have white spots on their heads and rather have one thin white stripe that ranges from the top of their head to the start of their snout. They might look alike, the polecat is certainly not a skunk.
Learn more: A Brief History of the Hand-standing Skunk
Polecats are a kind of predator in the Mustelidae household, which likewise consists of ferrets, fishers, otters, and badgers. Animals in this household have long bodies, thick fur, little round ears, and stumpy legs. Zorillas belong to the Ictonychinae, a subfamily of mustelids. Domestic ferrets are likewise classified in the Mustelidae household.
Learn more: Otters, Beavers And Other Semiaquatic Mammals Keep Clean Underwater, Thanks To Their Flexible Fur
3. Their Name Is Spanish for Fox
(Credit: Michal Sloviak/Shutterstock)
Their name, zorilla, comes from the word ‘zorro or zorra’ for fox. The word zorillo in Spanish is likewise the word for the skunk. Truly! They are not skunks. Striped polecats are referred to as Zorille, too.
Learn more: 10 Animal Names That Have You Fooled
4. Striped Polecats Scream
When threatened by other animals, or regularly domestic pet dogs, the polecat will fluff themselves up and roar and bark. The striped polecat will start to yell if the caution isn’t sufficient to repel the danger.
After the high-pitched caution, the polecat will spray the regrettable assailant with the worst-smelling secretion. If this isn’t adequate to drive away the predators, the malodorous animals play dead. Researchers presume that the secretions likewise make the striped polecat taste horrible. They may get away the jaws of death. Actually.
Find out more: What Are the Loudest Animals worldwide?
5. They Have a Stink Gland
(Credit: Michal Sloviak/Shutterstock)
Striped pole felines do have a stink gland and will spray when threatened or cornered. Their aroma originates from their anal gland and is smellier than skunk’s spray. It’s so strong that it can momentarily blind predators.
