Chinese Ferret-Badger

Chinese Ferret-Badger

Small-toothed ferret-badger

Kingdom
Phylum
Subphylum
Class
Order
Suborder
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Melogale moschata
Population size
Unknown
Life Span
10-17 years
Weight
1-3
2.2-6.6
kglbs
kg lbs 
Length
33-43
13-16.9
cminch
cm inch 

The Chinese ferret-badger (Melogale moschata ), also known as the small-toothed ferret-badger is a member of the Mustelidae, and widely distributed in Southeast Asia. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List and considered tolerant of modified habitat.

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The Chinese ferret-badger is densely distributed from Northeast India north to Central China south to northern Indochina. The Formosan ferret-badger (M. subaurantiaca ) of Taiwan was formerly considered conspecific, but is now thought to be a distinct species.

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Appearance

The Chinese ferret-badger is a mustelid widely distributed in Southeast Asia. Distinctive mask-like face markings distinguish it from most other oriental mustelids. The ferret badger acclimates well to areas of human habitation, taking advantage of human-made sites suitable as resting spots, such as firewood stacks and rock piles, and using farmland and vegetable gardens as feeding sites.

Distribution

Geography

Chinese ferret-badgers are found from north-eastern India to southern China, including Hainan Island, and south to Hong Kong and northern Indochina. They live in grassland, open forests, and tropical rainforests. They also temporarily reside in agricultural areas such as rice paddies, soybean, cotton, or grass fields.

Chinese Ferret-Badger habitat map

Climate zones

Chinese Ferret-Badger habitat map
Chinese Ferret-Badger
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Habits and Lifestyle

Chinese ferret-badgers are active at dusk and at night. The rest during the day in burrows of small rodents, or natural formations, such as rock crevices. They also construct makeshift shelters in shallow depressions in the ground. Chinese ferret-badgers have small home ranges that average around 10.6 ha (26 acres) in area. The home ranges of male and female ferret-badgers overlap, suggesting a lack of territoriality between members of the species. Despite their small home ranges, however, these animals are relatively nomadic creatures, moving from one resting spot to the next without establishing permanent residence. They may establish single-use resting spots, or choose to inhabit a particular place for a period of several days. Despite spending most of their time on the ground, Chinese ferret-badgers are good climbers. When alarmed they emit foul-smelling secretions from a gland located under their tail.

Seasonal behavior

Diet and Nutrition

Chinese ferret-badgers are omnivores feeding on fruit, insects, small animals, and worms. Earthworms, amphibians, and insects are important components of their diet. They also eat fleshy fruits such as of Chinese plum, oriental raisin tree, date-plum, and Chinese kiwi.

Mating Habits

REPRODUCTION SEASON
March-June
BABY CARRYING
3 kits
FEMALE NAME
sow
MALE NAME
boar
BABY NAME
kit

Chinese ferret-badgers breed in March and the female gives birth to a litter of up to 3 young in May or June. The newborns are blind and well-furred, with the same color pattern as the adults. Their eyes open at about 2 weeks of age and weaning occurs between 2 and 3 months of age.

Population

Population threats

Ferret badgers are among the most hunted fur-bearing animals in Southern China but maintain relatively high population densities in part due to their nearly-inedible meat and the low prices of their pelts.

Population number

The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Chinese ferret-badger total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are stable.

References

1. Chinese Ferret-Badger on Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_ferret-badger
2. Chinese Ferret-Badger on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/41626/45209676

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