Polecat is a common name for several

mustelid The Mustelidae (; from Latin ''mustela'', weasel) are a family of carnivorous mammals, including weasels, badgers, otters, ferrets, martens, minks and wolverines, among others. Mustelids () are a diverse group and form the largest family in ...

species in the order

Carnivora Carnivora is a Clade, monophyletic order of Placentalia, placental mammals consisting of the most recent common ancestor of all felidae, cat-like and canidae, dog-like animals, and all descendants of that ancestor. Members of this group are f ...

and

subfamilies In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end subfamily botanical names with "-oideae", and zoologi ...

Ictonychinae Ictonychinae is a subfamily of the mammal family Mustelidae found mainly in the Neotropics (three species) and Africa (three species), with one Eurasian member. It includes the grisons, Patagonian weasel, striped polecats, African striped weasel ...

and

Mustelinae Mustelinae is a subfamily of family Mustelidae, which includes weasels, ferrets and minks. __TOC__ It was formerly defined in a paraphyletic manner to also include wolverines, martens, and many other mustelids, to the exclusion of the ott ...

. Polecats do not form a single

taxonomic rank In biological classification, taxonomic rank is the relative level of a group of organisms (a taxon) in an ancestral or hereditary hierarchy. A common system consists of species, genus, family (biology), family, order (biology), order, class (b ...

(i.e.

clade A clade (), also known as a monophyletic group or natural group, is a group of organisms that are monophyletic – that is, composed of a common ancestor and all its lineal descendants – on a phylogenetic tree. Rather than the English term, ...

). The name is applied to several species with broad similarities to

European polecat The European polecat (''Mustela putorius''), also known as the common polecat, black polecat, or forest polecat, is a species of mustelid native to western Eurasia and North Africa. It is of a generally dark brown colour, with a pale underbelly ...

s, the only polecat species native to the British Isles, such as having a dark mask-like marking across the face. In the United States, the term ''polecat'' is sometimes applied to the

black-footed ferret The black-footed ferret (''Mustela nigripes''), also known as the American polecatHeptner, V. G. (Vladimir Georgievich); Nasimovich, A. A; Bannikov, Andrei Grigorovich; Hoffmann, Robert S. (2001)''Mammals of the Soviet Union''Volume: v. 2, pt. 1 ...

, a native member of the Mustelinae. In Southern United States dialect, the term ''polecat'' is sometimes used as a colloquial nickname for the

skunk Skunks are mammals in the family Mephitidae. They are known for their ability to spray a liquid with a strong, unpleasant scent from their anal glands. Different species of skunk vary in appearance from black-and-white to brown, cream or ginge ...

, which is only distantly related to mustelids. Despite their common name, polecats are more closely related to dogs than cats, which is why they are placed in the suborder

Caniformia Caniformia is a suborder within the order Carnivora consisting of "dog-like" carnivorans. They include dogs (wolves, foxes, etc.), bears, raccoons, and mustelids. The Pinnipedia (seals, walruses and sea lions) are also assigned to this group. ...

Taxonomy

According to the most recent taxonomic scheme proposing eight subfamilies within Mustelidae, polecats are classified as: Subfamily

*Genus ''

Ictonyx ''Ictonyx'' is a genus in the family Mustelidae (weasels). It contains two species: * Saharan striped polecat The Saharan striped polecat (''Ictonyx libycus''), also known as Saharan striped weasel and Libyan striped weasel, is a species of ...

'' **

Striped polecat The striped polecat (''Ictonyx striatus''), also called the African polecat, zoril, zorille, zorilla, Cape polecat, and African skunk, is a member of the family Mustelidae that resembles a skunk (of the family Mephitidae). The name "zorilla" co ...

, ''I. striatus'', (native to Central, Southern, and sub-Saharan Africa) **

Saharan striped polecat The Saharan striped polecat (''Ictonyx libycus''), also known as Saharan striped weasel and Libyan striped weasel, is a species of mammal in the family Mustelidae. Characteristics The Saharan striped polecat is white with dark random stripes. I ...

, ''I. libycus'' (Sahara) *Genus '' Vormela'' **

Marbled polecat The marbled polecat (''Vormela peregusna'') is a small mammal belonging to the monotypic genus ''Vormela'' within the mustelid subfamily Ictonychinae. ''Vormela'' is from the German word , which means "little worm". The specific name ''peregusn ...

, ''V. peregusna'' (Southeastern Europe to western China) Subfamily

*Genus '' Mustela'' ** Steppe polecat, ''M. eversmannii'' (Central and Eastern Europe, and Central Asia) ** American polecat (Black-footed ferret) ''M. nigripes'' (Southwest United States) **

, ''M. putorius'' (Western Eurasia and North Africa) File:Ictonyx striatus - Museo Civico di Storia Naturale Giacomo Doria - Genoa, Italy - DSC02633.JPG, Striped polecat File:Wild steppe polecat.jpg, Steppe polecat File:Mustela nigripes 2.jpg,

Black-footed ferret The black-footed ferret (''Mustela nigripes''), also known as the American polecatHeptner, V. G. (Vladimir Georgievich); Nasimovich, A. A; Bannikov, Andrei Grigorovich; Hoffmann, Robert S. (2001)''Mammals of the Soviet Union''Volume: v. 2, pt. 1 ...

, the “American polecat” File:Polecat in denmark.jpg, European polecat File:Marbled polecat.jpg, Marbled polecat

References

{{Animal common name Mustelinae Mammal common names