Chinese ferret-badger

Chinese ferret-badger
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Mustelidae
Genus:	Melogale
Species:	M. moschata
Binomial name
Melogale moschata (Gray, 1831)
Chinese ferret-badger range
Synonyms
Helictis subaurantiaca

The Chinese ferret-badger (Melogale moschata), also known as the small-toothed ferret-badger, is a member of the Mustelidae family. Distinctive mask-like face markings distinguish the Chinese ferret-badger from most other oriental mustelids, although the remaining members of the genus Melogale have comparable facial markings. This badger lives in burrows or crevices and is active at dusk and at night. It is a good climber and feeds on fruit, insects, small animals and worms. It is savage when alarmed and its anal secretions are foul-smelling. The female gives birth to a litter of up to 3 young in May or June.

The average body size of the Chinese ferret-badger is 33 to 43 cm with a tail of 15 to 23 cm. It lives in grassland, open forest and tropical rainforest from north-eastern India to southern China, Taiwan and northern Indochina.

References

• Duckworth, J.W., Timmins, R.J., R., Roberton, S., Long, B., Lau, M.W.N. & Choudbury, A. (2008). Melogale moschata. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 12 November 2008. Listed as Least Concern.