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Tibetan polecat Mustela putorius Linnaeus, 1758

Synonyms: Putorius larvatus Hodgson, 1849, Putorius putorius larvatus Pocock, 1936

Distribution

The Tibetan polecat is distributed in Kashmir (Ladakh), and possibly in Sikkim as it has been recorded from Utsang (southern Tibet) north of Sikkim (Pocock 1941).

Description

In external appearance the Tibetan polecat of old world (Putorius as stated by Pocock 1941) differs from the European form (Mustela) by having the chest, hind throat and legs blackish in colour. Another important character is the presence of "mask" or a dark pattern covering both the eyes, forehead and nose above the rhinarium. Only four undated skins of Tibetan polecats are known (Pocock 1941). In all the specimens the colour of the head and tail is variable probably due to seasonality. The fur and under hair of the dorsal surface are creamy white. The shoulders and the nape are dark chocolate-brown. The summit of the head may be almost wholly brown. The head and body length is around 355 to 405 mm, and tail length is around 15 mm (Pocock 1941). The approximate weight is around 700 gm. Of the two Utsang specimens one had the tail black throughout, while in other the basal third of the tail was whitish.

Behaviour

Nothing is known about the behaviour and biology of the Tibetan polecat, but there is no reason to suppose that they differ essentially from European polecat, which is usually nocturnal and its food habits are similar to other members of its group.

The Indian subspecies is M. putorius tibetanus Horsfield, 1851(Pocock 1941).

Conservation status

It is listed in Schedule II part II of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, Appendix III of CITES, and DD during the CAMP Workshop.

| Introduction | Mustelids | Viverrids | Herpestids | 
| Conservation Significance | References |