may I request the marbled polecat pretty please?? I think they're cool little guys
Day 263#: Marbled Polecat
Today's animal of the day is the Marbled Polecat (Vormela peregusna)!
Photo credit: Volker Röhl
Despite its name, the marbled polecat is not actually a type of felid, but is actually a member of the mustelid family. They are incredibly widespread and can be found throughout much of Eurasia, and once in 1998, they were even sighted in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt, though that was probably an abnormal occurrence. They typically inhabit dry, open habitats, such as semi-arid grasslands, scrub forests, and deserts, while avoiding more mountainous areas. Because of their large range, the marbled polecat has evolved into two separate subspecies. Usually, I try to cover distinct subspecies in separate posts whenever I get the chance, but I couldn't find any super major differences during my research, so I'll just cover both subspecies in the same post.
Photo credit: streptopelias on iNaturalist
The Western marbled polecat (V. p. peregusna) is the nominate subspecies and lives in southern and eastern Europe as well as in parts of Anatolia (Asia Minor) and the Caucasus region. They have distinct light colored bands on the back of their heads and necks. They also have small patches of white fur around their mouths and eyes.
The Eastern marbled polecat (V. p. koshewnikowi) is the larger of the two subspecies and inhabits parts of the Middle East as well as Central Asia. The bands of white fur on this subspecies connect with the white markings around their eyes and mouths. They also have more yellow spots on their bellies than the Western subspecies does.
Photo credit: Laszla Szavo-Szeley
Both subspecies of marbled polecats are predators that are most active during the day. They have relatively weak eyesight and instead rely on their sense of smell while hunting for prey, which includes rats, lizards, frogs, insects, birds, mice, ground squirrels, and even small hares! They've also been known to go after domestic species, like chickens and pigeons. These mustelids are able to easily chase burrowing animals thanks to their long, slender bodies, and if they encounter a tunnel that's too small for them to fit in, they are incredible diggers and will use their front claws to expand the tunnel and their sharp teeth to remove obstacles such as tree roots. They will also often create burrows themselves to live in, though they prefer not to stay in the same shelter more than once, and so prefer to take over abandoned ground squirrel dens and sometimes even man-made holes, such as irrigation tunnels.
Photo credit: Otgonbayar Tsend
Marbled polecats are mostly solitary and will react aggressively if they encounter another member of their species outside of the breeding season (which takes place from March to early June). During this time, they will make rhythmic rumbling sounds to attract mates. After mating, females usually give birth sometime between late January and mid-March; however, they have the ability to delay the implantation of their embryos if food or water is in short supply until a time when conditions are more favorable for giving birth.
Photo credit: Kudaibergen Amirekul
Like many members of the mustelid family, marbled polecats are able to produce a foul-smelling liquid from their anal glands when threatened. Sadly, this ability can do little to protect them from the fur trade, as their pelts have historically been highly sought after. Luckily, the demand for "fitch", as their pelts are known in the market, has somewhat lessened in recent years, though factors such as habitat loss, climate change, and second-hand poisoning from rodenticides (which is where the polecats eat prey that has ingested poison and so they become poisoned themselves) continue to threaten this species' survival. Marbled polecats are currently listed as vulnerable, with a major concern being habitat fragmentation, which prevents populations from being able to crossbreed, resulting in an increase in inbreeding.
Photo credit: Mehmet Çelik
Also, fun fact: their genus name, Vormela, is derived from the German word Würmlein, which means "little worm". Hopefully, that cheered you all up a little after all the depressing climate change and habitat fragmentation talk.
Thanks anon for requesting this species!
