Mustela strigidorsa Linnaeus 1758

54.

Back-striped Weasel

Mustela strigidorsa

French: Putois a dos rayé / German: Riickenstreifenwiesel / Spanish: Comadreja estriada

Other common names: Stripe-backed Weasel

Taxonomy. Mustela strigodorsa Gray, 1853,

India.

Monotypic.

Distribution. S China (Guangxi, Guizhou & Yunnan), NE India, N & C Laos, N & C Myanmar, N Thailand, and N & C Vietnam.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 25-325 cm, tail 10.3-20.5 cm; weight 700-2000 g. The Back-striped Weasel has a long, slender body and short limbs. The pelage is dark brown with yellowish-white upperlips, cheeks, chin, and throat. A narrow, whitish stripe runs along the back from the head to the base of the tail. Another narrow pale stripe runs along the abdomen. The bushy tail is less than half the head and body length. There are two pairs of mammae. The tympanic bullae are flattened. Dental formula: 13/3, C1/1,P3/3,M 1/2 = 34.

Habitat. Found mainly in evergreen forests in hills and mountains, but has also been recorded from plains forest, dense scrub, secondary forest, grassland, and farmland. Altitudinal range 90-2500 m.

Food and Feeding. The dietis said to include small rodents.

Activity patterns. Nothing known.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Has been seen on the ground and in trees.

Breeding. Nothing known.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern in The [UCN Red List. Populations in the wild are suspected to be declining. Back-striped Weasels are sold for traditional medicine in Laos. About 3000 to 4000 pelts were harvested annually in China in the 1970s. Outside China, this species is sold occasionally in Laos and Vietnam. Even though the Back-striped Weasel is not known to have high economic value, hunting or harvesting for trade could be causing major declines because many hunting methods (notably snares) are non-selective. This is a poorly known species and field studies are needed to learn more about its natural history, ecology, and conservation status.

Bibliography. Davies (2006), Evans et al. (1994), Francis (2008), Hansel & Tizard (2006), IUCN (2008), Lekagul & McNeely (1991), Pocock (1941a), Ratajszczak & Cox (1991), Schreiber et al. (1989), Wozencraft (2005, 2008).