Steppe Polecat

Taxobox
name = Steppe Polecat
status = LR/lc | status_system = IUCN2.3
status_ref = IUCN2006|assessors=Mustelid Specialist Group|year=1996|id=29679|title=Mustela eversmannii|downloaded=08 May 2006]


image_caption =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
ordo = Carnivora
familia = Mustelidae
subfamilia = Mustelinae
genus = "Mustela"
species = "M. eversmanii"
binomial = "Mustela eversmanii"
binomial_authority = (Lesson, 1827)

The Steppe Polecat ("Mustela eversmanii") is a small carnivore and is one of several species of weasel that belong to the genus "Mustela". It can also be referred to as the Siberian polecat. The Siberian Weasel ("Mustela sibirica") is also occasionally referred to as Siberian polecat, which can be confusing.

The Steppe Polecat is found in the steppes and sub-deserts of Eastern Europe and republics of the former USSR. It is also found in Mongolia and West, Central and North East China.cite web | title = "Mustela eversmannii" | work = MSW Scientific Names, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History | url = http://nmnhgoph.si.edu/cgi-bin/wdb/msw/names/query/12267 | accessdate = 2006-04-16]

The Steppe Polecat breeds during March to April. Gestation ranges from 39 to 43 days. Birth has been observed around mid-May and average litter size is 6.8 young. cite journal | author = Mead, R.A., S. Neirinckx and N.M. Czekala | url = http://www.reproduction-online.org/cgi/content/abstract/88/1/353 | title = Reproductive cycle of the steppe polecat ("Mustela eversmanni") | journal = Journal of Reproduction and Fertility | year = 1990 | volume = 88 | pages = 353–360 | pmid = 2156073 | format = abstract | doi = 10.1530/jrf.0.0880353 ]

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis identified 9 sulfur containing compounds in the anal gland secretion of the Steppe Polecat:
* 2,2-dimethylthietane
* (Z)- or (E)- 2,4-dimethylthietane (predominant)
* (E)-2,3-dimethylthietane
* 2-ethylthietane
* (E)-2-ethyl-3-methylthietane
* (Z)-2-ethyl-3-methylthietane
* 2-propylthietane
* 3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dithiacyclopentane
* (Z)- 3,4-dimethyl-2,2-dithiacyclopentane

Relative abundance of the compounds varied with sex and age. A relative of the Steppe Polecat, the Siberian Weasel ("Mustela sibirica") has the same volatile compounds in its anal gland secretions, but the predominant compound is 2,2-dimethylthietane. It is suggested that the differences in compound abundance are a way for the Steppe Polecat and the Siberian Weasel to communicate species, sex and age.cite journal | author = Zhang, J.X., L.X. Sun, Z.B. Zhang, Z.W. Wang, Y. Chen and R. Wang | url = http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12184403&dopt=Abstract | title = Volatile compounds in anal gland of Siberian weasels ("Mustela sibirica") and steppe polecats ("M-eversmanni") | journal = Journal of Chemical Ecology | year = 2002 | volume = 28 | pages = 1287–1297 | doi = 10.1023/A:1016246120479] cite journal | author = Zhang, J.X., J. Ni, X.J. Ren, L. Sun, Z.B. Zhang and Z.W. Wang | url = http://chemse.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/28/5/381 | title = Possible coding for recognition of sexes, individuals and species in anal gland volatiles of Mustela eversmanni and M. sibirica | journal = Chemical Senses | year = 2003 | volume = 28 | pages = 381–388 | doi = 10.1093/chemse/28.5.381 | pmid = 12826534]

References

External links

* [http://zoo-eco.zooclub.ru/eco-mlek449d7.html Russian article] with photos