Saharan Striped Polecat

Photo Ark

Saharan Striped Polecat

Scientific Name Ictonyx libycus

Photo Taken At Plzen Zoo, Plzen, Czech Republic

IUCN Red List Status Least Concern

Population

There is limited reliable information on the population status of this species. Lybian Striped Weasels are not uncommon, and are reportedly abundant in coastal dunes, but numbers are probably subject to periodic fluctuations (Cuzin 2013). Read More

Threats

There are no major threats, but Lybian Striped Weasels are exploited in Tunisia in the belief that they are capable of increasing human male fertility. Also, they may be subject to competition with Least Weasel (Mustela nivalis) in the most productive habitats (e.g., in Morocco: F. Cuzin pers. obs. 2007). Read More

Region

mediterranean

Geographic Range

This species is present in northern Africa from Morocco and Senegal to Egypt and Eritrea. Its distribution range is poorly known (Cuzin 2013) and apparently overlaps with that of the Zorilla (Ictonyx striatus) in some regions, such as in northern Nigeria and in central and eastern Sudan (Niethammer 1987). Read More

Habitat

Lybian Striped Weasels are only found in desert fringes, mountains and oases, and sub-deserts. They favour sparse to very sparse vegetation cover, dominated by small bushes, except where they occur in cultivated areas (Cuzin 2013). Read More

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RECENTLY ADDED SPECIES

Ahmim, M. & Do Linh San, E. 2015. Ictonyx libycus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T41645A45212347. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T41645A45212347.en

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