The African striped weasel, Poecilogale albinucha, also called the white-naped weasel, striped weasel or African weasel, is a small mustelid of sub-Saharan Africa whose range runs from Kenya south to South Africa. It is the lone member of the genus Poecilogale and one of the smallest carnivorans in Africa, measuring 24 to 35 centimetres without the tail, with a long slender body, short legs and a bushy tail. Its fur is black over most of the body with white bands running from the top of the head down the back, and a completely white tail. It is most often seen in savanna and veld grasslands with termite mounds, digs burrows, is mostly nocturnal and solitary, and feeds almost entirely on rodents, killing them with a bite to the back of the neck. It has been rated Least Concern on the IUCN Red List since 1996 because of its wide range and habitat tolerance, and it is used in local traditional medicine.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) ThreatsOther or No Known Threats 1 Relationship to PeopleUsed in Traditional Medicine 1 Living or Extinct Conservation Status Activity Pattern Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source African striped weasel
In Biome
Source African striped weasel
In Ecosystem
Source African striped weasel
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source African striped weaselLead, living or extinctQuote, Lead, living or extinct
The African striped weasel (Poecilogale albinucha), also known as the white-naped weasel, striped weasel or African weasel, is a small mammal native to sub-Saharan Africa, where its range stretches from as far north as Kenya south to South Africa.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source African striped weaselLead, living or extinctQuote, Lead, living or extinct
The African striped weasel (Poecilogale albinucha), also known as the white-naped weasel, striped weasel or African weasel, is a small mammal native to sub-Saharan Africa, where its range stretches from as far north as Kenya south to South Africa.
Sources
1. African striped weasel
Lead
Though not commonly seen, it has been listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List since 1996 because of its wide range and habitat tolerance.
Lead, living or extinct
The African striped weasel (Poecilogale albinucha), also known as the white-naped weasel, striped weasel or African weasel, is a small mammal native to sub-Saharan Africa, where its range stretches from as far north as Kenya south to South Africa.
Lead, diet
African striped weasels are specialized predators that feed almost entirely on rodents, though they occasionally eat birds as well.
Section: Behaviour and ecology
The African striped weasel is a mostly nocturnal animal, though it can sometimes be found at dawn or dusk.
Lead, system
The African striped weasel is most commonly seen in savanna and veld grasslands with termite mounds, but has also been recorded in semideserts, rainforests, fynbos and even areas used by humans such as pine plantations and agricultural land.
Lead, threats
There are no known major threats to the species, though it is commonly used in local traditional medicine.
Life span, captivity
=== Mortality and defense === The lifespan of the African striped weasel is short, with captive individuals recorded to only live for five or six years.
In Ecosystem: Fynbos, Distribution and habitat
The African striped weasel is most commonly seen in savanna and veld grasslands with termite mounds, but has also been recorded in semideserts, rainforests, fynbos and even areas used by humans such as pine plantations and agricultural land.
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