Polecat

For other uses, see Polecat (disambiguation).

Polecat
European polecat
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Suborder:	Caniformia
Family:	Mustelidae
Subfamily:	Mustelinae

Polecat is the common name for mammals in the order Carnivora and subfamily Mustelinae. Polecats do not form a single taxonomic rank; the name is applied to several species broadly similar to European polecats, the only species living natively on the British Isles.

In the United States, the term polecat is sometimes applied to the black-footed ferret, a native member of the Mustelinae, and loosely to skunks, which are only distantly related.

Despite the name, polecats are more related to dogs than cats, since they belong to the suborder of Caniformiae.

Systematics

According to the systematic theory proposing two subfamilies within Mustelidae, the polecats are classified as:

Subfamily Mustelinae

• Genus Ictonyx
  • Striped polecat, I. striatus
  • Saharan striped polecat, I. libycus
• Genus Mustela
  • Steppe polecat, M. eversmannii
  • American polecat (Black-footed ferret) M. nigripes
  • European polecat, M. putorius
• Genus Vormela
  • Marbled polecat, V. peregusna

A more recent classification based on genetic analysis suggests that Mustelidae should be divided into eight subfamilies, one of which is the Mustelinae.

Mustelidae Lutrinae Mustela, Neovison (subfamily Mustelinae) Galictis, Vormela, Ictonyx, Poecilogale (subfamily Galictinae) Melogale (subfamily Helictidinae) Eira, Gulo, Martes (subfamily Martinae) Arctonyx, Meles (subfamily Melinae) Mellivora (subfamily Mellivorinae) Taxidea (subfamily Taxideinae)

Note: In much of the United States the word "polecat" is almost exclusively applied to skunks.

Diversity and distribution

Comparative table of the six polecats in the subfamily Mustelinae.

Polecat	Image	Distribution	Weight	Length (including tail)
Striped polecat		Central, Southern, and sub-Saharan Africa	0.6-1.3 kg.	60–70 cm.
Saharan striped polecat	Similar colouration to striped polecat	North Africa	0.5-0.75 kg	55–70 cm
Steppe polecat		Central and Eastern Europe, and Central Asia	Males, up to 2.05 kg; Females, 1.35 kg	Males, 32–56 cm; Females, 29–52 cm
American polecat		South Dakota, Arizona, and Wyoming, reintroduced into various U.S. states and northern Chihuahua, Mexico	Males, 0.65–1.40 kg; Females, 10% smaller	Males, 61–66 cm; Females, 10% smaller
European polecat		Western Eurasia and North Africa	Middle European Males, 1.0-1.5 kg; Females, 0.65-0.82 kg	Males, 44–62 cm; Females, 37–54 cm
Marbled polecat		Southeastern Europe to western China	Males, 0.3-0.7 kg; Females, 0.3-0.6 kg	29–35 cm (head and body)