Mustelids

Mustelids, Viverrids and Herpestids of India: Species Profile and Conservation Status

- S.A. Hussain

Back-striped weasel Mustela strigidorsa Gray, 1853

Distribution

The back-striped weasel occurs in Nepal, eastwards in Sikkim, West Bengal, Assam, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh between an altitude of 1000 and 2500 m (Pocock 1941, Choudhury 1997a,b, 1999, Datta 1999). Its occurrence has been confirmed from Myanmar, China (Yunan), Thailand and Laos PDR (Wozencraft 1993)

Description

It is distinguished from all other species of Mustela by the presence of a narrow silvery dorsal streak extending from the occiput almost to the root of the tail, and of a corresponding yellowish ventral streak from the chest along the abdomen. The general body colour of the dorsal surface varies from deep to paler chocolate brown, sometimes a little paler on the head and usually slightly darkened along the side of the dorsal streak. The tail and limbs are similar in shade as dorsal body surface. The upper lip from rhinarium, the chin and the throat up to the level of the ears are pale varying from whitish to ochre. On the hind throat and fore chest the pale hue gradually narrows in extent and is quite narrow between the fore legs, where it passes into the ventral streak, which expands on the inguinal region between thighs. The sole of the feet are naked. The tail is small in size being almost between one third to one half the length of the head and body, and bushy. The length of head and body of a female from Laos was around 285 mm while the tail length was 152 mm.

Behaviour

Very little is known about its behaviour and biology. So far only eight animals of this species have been known scientifically; three from Sikkim, and one each from Nepal, Laos, Myanmar, Fenasserim and Thailand (Kruska 1990). Any recent sighting may have gone unreported. In Naga hills it was seen stalking a large bandicoot (Pocock 1941). The specimen from Myanmar came from dense hill jungle (Pocock 1941).

Conservation status

It is listed in Appendix III of CITES, VU c 2a in IUCN Red List and DD during CAMP Workshop. It does not figure in the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.