Main Characteristics

African Striped Weasels have a body length between 25 and 35 cms (10 - 14 inches), a tail length between 15 and 23 cms (6 - 9 inches) and they weigh between 225 and 350 g (8 - 13 oz).

They are black in colour with a white patch on the top of their head that splits into white stripes that run along their back and join at the base of their tail. Their bushy tail is grey and if they are threatened they can squirt a fowl smelling fluid from their anal glands more than 1 m (3.25 ft).

Habitat

African Striped Weasels can be found in the forests, grasslands and marshy areas of sub-saharan Africa.

Diet

African Striped Weasels mainly feed on mice and other small rodents. They will also occasionally feed on birds and eggs.

Breeding

After a gestation period of 31 - 33 days, African Striped Weasels give birth to a litter of 1 - 3 young. They are weaned at 11 weeks and they reach sexual maturity between 1.5 and 3 years of age.

Predators


Subspecies

Subspecies of the African Striped Weasel are:

Poecilogale albinucha albinucha

Poecilogale albinucha bechuanae

Poecilogale albinucha doggetti

Poecilogale albinucha lebombo

Poecilogale albinucha transvaalensis

Interesting Facts


Similar Animals

Malayan Weasel
Mountain Weasel
Patagonian Weasel
Siberian Weasel
Tropical Weasel
Indonesian Mountain Weasel
Taiwan High Mountain Weasel
Yellow-Bellied Weasel