UpdateBot at 01:54, 19 November 2021

2021-11-19T01:54:57Z

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{{Short description|Species of carnivore}}
{{speciesbox
| name = Back-striped weasel
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Roberton, S. |author2=Duckworth, J.W. |author3=Timmins, R.J. |author4=Abramov, A.V. |author5=Chutipong, W. |author6=Choudhury, A. |author7=Willcox, D.H.A. |author8=Dinets, V. |date=2016 |title=''Mustela strigidorsa'' |volume=2016 |page=e.T14027A45201218 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T14027A45201218.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref>
| image = Mustela strigidorsa.gif
| image_caption = A 19th century illustration of a back-striped weasel
| genus = Mustela
| species = strigidorsa
| authority = [[John Edward Gray|Gray]], 1853
| range_map = Back-striped Weasel area.png
| range_map_caption = Back-striped weasel range
}}

The '''back-striped weasel''' (''Mustela strigidorsa''), also called the '''stripe-backed weasel''', is a [[weasel]] widely distributed in [[Southeastern Asia]]. It is listed as [[Least Concern]] on the [[IUCN Red List]] in view of its presumed large population, occurrence in many protected areas, apparent tolerance to some degree of habitat modification and hunting pressure.<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" />

== Characteristics ==
The back-striped weasel is distinguished from all other ''[[Mustela]]'' species by the presence of a narrow, silvery dorsal streak extending from the [[occiput]] almost to the root of the tail, with a corresponding yellowish ventral streak from the chest along the abdomen. The general 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 of the same hue as the back. The upper lip from the rhinarium, the chin and the throat up to the level of the ears are pale varying from whitish to ochreous. On the hind throat and fore chest, the pale hue gradually narrows in extent, and is quite narrow between the forelegs, where it passes into the ventral streak, which expands on the inguinal region between thighs. The pads of the feet are well developed, the plantar ads being four-lobed, with the area around them entirely naked.<ref name=Pocock1941>{{cite book |author=Pocock, R. I. |year=1941 |title=The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma. Mammalia Vol. II. Carnivora (suborders Aeluroidae (part) and Arctoidae) |location=London |publisher=Taylor and Francis, Ltd. |chapter=Mustela strigidorsa Gray. The Back-striped Weasel |pages=376–380 |chapter-url=https://archive.org/stream/PocockMammalia2/pocock2#page/n407/mode/2up}}</ref>

The bushy tail is rather long, being more than half the length of the head and body. The length of head and body of males is {{convert|30|-|36|cm|in|abbr=on}}, while the tail length is {{convert|18|-|20|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref name=Abramov2008>{{cite journal |author1=Abramov, A. V. |author2=Duckworth, J. W. |author3=Wang, Y. |author4=Roberton, S. I. |year=2008 |title=The stripe-backed weasel ''Mustela strigidorsa:'' taxonomy, ecology, distribution and status |journal=Mammal Review |volume=48 |issue=4 |pages=247–266 |doi=10.1111/j.1365-2907.2008.00115.x |url=http://www.academia.edu/download/11528921/strigidorsa.pdf}}</ref> A live-captured juvenile male was estimated to weigh only {{convert|700|g|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Grassman, L. I. |author2=Kreetiyutanont, K. |author3=Tewes, M. E. |year=2002 |title=The Back-striped weasel ''Mustela strigidorsa'' Gray, 1853 in northeastern Thailand |journal=Small Carnivore Conservation |issue=26 |page=2 }}</ref>

== Distribution and habitat ==
The occurrence of the stripe-backed weasel has been confirmed from scattered localities in and around northeastern [[India]], northern and central [[Myanmar]], southern [[China]], northern [[Thailand]], northern and central [[Laos]] and [[Vietnam]] at an elevation range from sea level to {{convert|2500|m|ft|abbr=on}}. It inhabits a wide variety of habitats, and it is not yet possible to define its habitat needs. Specimens collected came from dense hill jungle, hill [[evergreen forest]], disturbed evergreen forest, lower montane evergreen forest and lowland evergreen forest. Most field sightings were in daylight.<ref name=Abramov2008/>

In India, it was recorded in [[Dampa Tiger Reserve]] in 1994, and in [[Namdapha National Park]].<ref name=Datta1999>{{cite journal |author=Datta, A. |year=1999 |title=Small Carnivores in two Protected Areas of Arunachal Pradesh |journal=Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society |volume=96 |pages=399–404}}</ref>
In Laos, two individuals were sighted in 2008, both near streams in [[evergreen forest]] in [[Nakai–Nam Theun]] National Biodiversity Conservation Area.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Streicher, U. |author2=Duckworth, J.W. |author3=Robichaud, W.G. |name-list-style=amp |year=2008 |title=Further Records of Stripe-backed Weasel ''Mustela strigidorsa'' from Lao PDR |journal=Tropical Natural History |volume=10 |issue=2 |pages=199–203 |url=https://li01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/tnh/article/download/103014/82558}}</ref>

== Ecology and behavior ==
In the [[Naga Hills]], one was seen fighting with a large [[bandicoot rat]].<ref name=Pocock1941/>

== Threats==
The back-striped weasel is potentially threatened by [[trapping#Snares|snares]] placed in its habitat, which target small edible wildlife.<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" />

== Conservation ==
The back-striped weasel is protected in Thailand and nationally listed as Endangered in China.<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" />

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Weasels}}
{{Carnivora|M.}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1142024}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:weasel, back-striped}}
[[Category:Weasels|back-striped weasel]]
[[Category:Mammals of Southeast Asia]]
[[Category:Mammals of China]]
[[Category:Mammals of Laos]]
[[Category:Mammals of Thailand]]
[[Category:Mammals of Vietnam]]
[[Category:Fauna of Sikkim]]
[[Category:Fauna of Eastern Himalaya]]
[[Category:Fauna of Yunnan]]
[[Category:Mammals described in 1853|back-striped weasel]]
[[Category:Taxa named by John Edward Gray|back-striped weasel]]

Back-striped weasel - Revision history

UpdateBot at 01:54, 19 November 2021