Themarbled polecat (Vormela peregusna) is a smallmustelid belonging to thesubfamilyIctonychinae. It is the only living member of the genusVormela. Marbled polecats are generally found in the drier areas andgrasslands ofsoutheastern Europe towestern China. Like other members of the Ictonychinae, it can emit a strong-smelling secretion from anal sacs under the tail when threatened.
The oldestscientific description of a marbled polecat was published in 1770, when Baltic German naturalistJohann Anton Güldenstädt reported the species living in the steppes of the lowerDon River area in what is nowRostov Oblast, Russia.[3][2] Believing it to be a member of the genusMustela, he named this speciesMustela peregusna.[3] Thespecific name comes fromperehuznya (перегузня), which isUkrainian for "polecat".[4] The following year, German zoologistPeter Simon Pallas studied a variant of marbled polecat found along theVolga River in southern Russia and named itMustela sarmatica, believing it to be a new species.[5] In 1884, German ornithologistAugust Wilhelm Heinrich Blasius analysed specimens attributed toM. sarmatica and determined that the species belonged in a separatesubgenus from othermustelids based on the structure of its skull and teeth. He therefore erected the subgenusVormela, and renamed the species asVormela sarmatica.[6] The nameVormela is derived from theGerman wordWürmlein, which means "little worm".[2]
After analysing more specimens of marbled polecats collected across theRussian Empire, Russian zoologistKonstantin Satunin declared in 1910 that because the species named asV. sarmatica differed significantly from other mustelids, it should be placed into a new genus. Satunin therefore elevatedVormela from subgenus to genus level. In addition, he named two new species and attributed them to this genus;Vormela koshewnikowi was established based a specimen collected fromAshabad, whileVormela tedshenika was named from a specimen found inTedzhen. Both locations were part ofRussian Turkestan at the time.[7] Later that year, American zoologistGerrit Smith Miller Jr. became the first to refer to the species namedMustela peregusna by Güldenstädt as a member ofVormela, addressing it asVormela peregusna. In addition, Miller established an additional species of marbled polecat based on skins collected from theOrdos Desert of China by the natives of the area, and gave his new species the nameVormela negans.[8]
In 1936, British zoologistReginald Innes Pocock determined after studying specimens in theBritish Museum that only one species of marbled polecat exists. He concluded that all the different morphs which have been named as separate species are actuallyintergrading local races, and that this species does indeed belong to a separate genus from other living mustelids. Becauseperegusna is the oldestspecific name to have been assigned to a marbled polecat,Vormela peregusna became thevalid name of the species, and all the otherVormela species which had been established becamejunior synonyms of it.[9]
The marbled polecat is a widespread and highly variable species, leading many authors to erect newsubspecies of it based on specimens collected in different areas, some of which were even originally named as separate species. However, there has been debate among experts as to how many subspecies are truly valid. Russian naturalistSergey Ognev conducted the first taxonomic revision of the marbled polecat in 1935 and believed there to be three subspecies which can be divided into two groups, namely a western group (comprisingV. p. peregusna andV. p. alpherakii) and an eastern group (with onlyV. p. negans).[10] A year later, Pocock published his revision of the species which splits it into six subspecies, reaching such a conclusion after analysing a small number of museum specimens.[9] By the early 21st Century, most authors considered five or six marbled polecat subspecies to be valid, with six listed in an article fromMammalian Species and five being recognised in the third edition ofMammal Species of the World (both published in 2005).[2][11]
In 2017, a study which analysed 245 marbled polecat skulls collected from across the range of the species was published. The authors concluded that the specimens could be divided into two groups based on physical differences, and therefore determined that only two subspecies are valid, which are listed in the table below:[12]
Smaller than the eastern subspecies, with more contrasting, dark brown fur patterns. Has distinct light bands on the back of the head and neck that do not merge in the front, a small white area around the mouth that does not connect to those around the eyes, and very few yellow spots (0 to 4) on the belly.
Larger than the nominate subspecies, with lighter, mainly yellow fur. Has light bands forming a complete "collar" around the neck, large white area around the mouth connecting to those under the eyes, and many large yellow spots on the belly.
Southern and eastern parts of the Middle East, Central Asia and eastward to China
The marbled polecat belongs to the familyMustelidae, and more specifically to the subfamilyIctonychinae. This subfamily can be divided into twotribes, Ictonychini and Lyncodontini. Along with three African species (theSaharan striped polecat,African striped weasel andstriped polecat), the marbled polecat is one of four living species that comprise the former tribe.Genetic analysis has revealed that the lineage of the marbled polecatdiverged from the rest of Ictonychini early on in the evolution of this tribe, with multiple studies recovering this species as asister group to theclade comprising the African members of Ictonychini.[13][14][15] A 2008 study suggested that this divergence occurred between 4.6 and 4.0 million years ago, whereas a 2012 study proposed an earlier date between 6.48 and 6.01 million years ago.[13][14] The followingcladogram shows the position of the marbled polecat among its closest living relatives according to Grayet al. (2022):[15]
The marbled polecat is thetype species of the genusVormela, and the only extant member of the genus. However, two extinct species known from fossils, namelyVormela petenyii andVormela prisca, have also been assigned to this genus. In particular,Vormela petenyii specimens have been collected from theLate Pliocene toEarly Pleistocene-aged deposits of Hungary, Poland and Bulgaria, and this species has been suggested to be the direct ancestor of the modern marbled polecat.[16]
Analysis of skull measurements has revealed that the anatomical diversity of marbled polecats is highest in western parts of this animal's range and decreases eastward.[12] In addition, studies ofmitochondrial DNA have revealed that genetic diversity in this species is low throughout most of its range.[17] However, populations fromAnatolia and Bulgaria (in the westernmost areas of the marbled polecat's range) exhibit higher genetic diversity, with ancestral lineages having been discovered in Bulgaria.[18][19] This suggests that the species originated in theBalkan-Caucasian region, and Bulgaria was likely arefugium for it during thelast ice age (between 115,000 and 11,700 years ago), after which it spread out eastwards to colonize other parts of its modern range very quickly.[12][19]
Marbled polecat in the Magdeburg ZooPaws, nose and ear, as illustrated inPocock'sThe Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma - Mammalia Vol 2
Ranging in length from 29–35 cm (head and body), the marbled polecat has a short muzzle and very large, noticeable ears. The limbs are short and claws are long and strong. While the tail is long, with long hair, the overallpelage is short. Black and white mark the face, with a black stripe across the eyes and white markings around the mouth.Dorsally, the pelage is yellow and heavily mottled with irregular reddish or brown spots. The tail is dark brown with a yellowish band in the midregion. Theventral region and limbs are a dark brown.[20] Females weigh from 295 to 600 g (10.4 to 21.2 oz) and males from 320 to 715 g (11.3 to 25.2 oz).[21][22][23]
The marbled polecat is most active during the morning and evening.[26][21] Its eyesight is weak, and it relies on its well-developed sense of smell.[23] Vocalization is limited and consists of shrill alarm cries, grunts and a submissive long shriek.[27] It issolitary and moves extensively through ahome range of 0.5–0.6 km2 (0.19–0.23 sq mi). It generally stays in a shelter once. When encountering each other, they are usually aggressive.[22]
When alarmed, a marbled polecat raises up on its legs while arching its back and curling its tail over its back, with the long tail hair erect. It may also raise its head, bare its teeth, and give shrill, short hisses.[21][23] If threatened, it can expel a foul-smelling secretion from enlarged anal glands under its tail.[23]
To excavate burrows, the marbled polecat digs out earth with its forelegs while anchoring itself with its chin and hind legs. It uses its teeth to pull out obstacles such as roots.[28]
Burrows of largeground squirrels or similar rodents such as thegreat gerbil (Rhombomys opimus) and Libyanjird (Meriones libycus) are used by marbled polecats for resting and breeding. They may also dig their own dens or live in underground irrigation tunnels.[1][23] In the winter, marbled polecats line their dens with grass.[27]
Marbled polecats mate from March to early June.[26] Their mating calls are most often heard as low, rumbling sounds in a slow rhythm.Gestation can be long and variable (243 to 327 days).Parturition has been observed to occur from late January to mid-March.[21]Delayed implantation allows marbled polecats to time the birth of their cubs for favorable conditions, such as when prey is abundant.[22]
Litter sizes range from four to eight cubs.[26][21] Only females care for the young. Cubs open their eyes around 38–40 days old, areweaned at 50–54 days, and leave their mother (disperse) at 61–68 days old.[22]
In 2008, the marbled polecat was classified as avulnerable species in theIUCN Red List due to a population reduction of at least 30% in the previous 10 years.[1] In 1996, it had been considered a species ofleast concern. The decline in marbled polecat populations thought to be due tohabitat loss and reduction in available prey due to use ofrodenticides.[31][29][32]
Data revealed that from the west to the east, a gradual decrease in morphological diversity was seen in polecat skulls, thus giving location as a factor to diversify the polecats. Also, the data related to the range formation of the species rather thanclimate change.[12]
^Novikov, G.A. (1962).Carnivorous mammals of the fauna of the USSR. Jerusalem: Israeli Program of Scientific Translation.ISBN0-7065-0169-1.{{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
^abcdeHarrison, D. (1968).Mammals of Arabia. London: Ernest Benn Limited.
^abcMacDonald, D.; Barrett, P. (1993).Mammals of Britain and Europe. New York: Harper Collins Publishers.ISBN0-00-219779-0.
^Rifai, L.B.; Al Shafee, D.M.; Al Melhim, W.N. & Amr, Z.S. (1999). "Status of the marbled polecat,Vormela peregusna (Gueldenstaedt, 1770) in Jordan".Zoology in the Middle East.17:5–8.doi:10.1080/09397140.1999.10637764.
Qumsiyeh, M. B.; Amr, Z. S. & Shafei, D. M. (1993). "Status and conservation of carnivores in Jordan".Mammalia.57:55–62.doi:10.1515/mamm.1993.57.1.55.S2CID85376882.
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