Saharan striped polecat

The Saharan striped polecat (Poecilictis libyca), also known as the Saharan striped weasel and Libyan striped weasel, is a species of mammal native to northern Africa. It belongs in the family Mustelidae, and debate exists among experts over what genus it belongs to; though formerly placed in Ictonyx along with the striped polecat, it is now placed in the lone member of a separate genus called Poecilictis. Genetic analysis has shown that its closest living relatives are the striped polecat and African striped weasel. It mainly inhabits dry, steppe-like environments with sparse bush cover along the edges of the Sahara desert and on its mountains, avoiding the most arid regions in its center. Occasionally, it is found in oases, woodlands and cultivated land. As a secretive animal, it has likely been overlooked in parts of its range, and sightings of it are still made in recent years in locations where it has not been recorded before.

Measuring 23–29 cm (9–11 in) in length excluding the tail, this species is a small, slender animal with short legs and a bushy tail. It tends to have a black face, underside and legs, with white facial patterns, a light-coloured back and flanks, and dark stripes running down its back. However, the exact colouration and patterning is highly variable between different individuals, and multiple subspecies have been established based on these differences. Fur length is also variable, with the light fur in some populations growing so long that it partly obscures the back stripes, making them appear to have spots or patches. Unlike its closest relatives, the Saharan striped polecat has fur on the undersides of its paws, likely as an adaptation to its sandy habitat. It has glands near its anus which can spray a noxious fluid at potential predators so that the animal can defend itself. Its striking colouration is an example of aposematism, warning predators of its spray to deter them from attacking. It is also highly aggressive to species it views as threats, including humans, commonly hissing and spitting at them rather than fleeing immediately. Sometimes, it will also feign death to avoid predation.