Sunday Fun Facts
This post is sponsored by SAASA and Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary
Fun Facts about African Pole Cats
Zorilla/ Stinky Pole Cat Latin name: Ictonyx striatus
DID YOU KNOW?
Due to their small stomachs, they must eat often, and have clawed paws to help them dig around in the dirt in pursuit
of their next meal.
Like the skunk, the zorilla has an anal scent gland that it can use to spray a strong smelling liquid to keep it safe from predators.
The Guinness Book of Animal Records claims a zorilla once kept nine lions at bay while it was scavenging their kill, to illustrate the claim it is indeed the worst smelling animal.
These furry animals are therefor known as the smelliest creatures on Earth!
The Zorilla is a small, carnivorous, nocturnal mammal.
It is part of the weasel family, found in dry regions of Africa.
They look a lot like skunks and are also known as a polecat or striped weasel.
Zorillas can live in most habitats, including open grassland, woodland, rocky areas, forests, and deserts.
They have small stomachs and so have to eat often. Their clawed paws help them dig the earth for their next meal.
Their faces have a unique face mask colouring, and often includes a white spot on their head, and white ears.
The colouring is a warning to predators and anything else that threatens them.
Striped Polecats like to live by themselves, and only associate regularly with their family.
They hunt for food at night.
Striped polecats mark their territory by spraying it, similar to skunks. This protects them from predators.
They can use their spray to fend off predators. Its anal glands secrete a pungent fluid that can be ejected as a defense against predators.
It is therefore a creature which is mostly avoided by other animals.
Striped polecats scream in a high pitch to communicate with each other, as well as to scare predators. They use a high to low pitched scream to surrender to their enemies.
Come back next week for more exciting fun facts from SAASA and Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary here on Lets Go Big Tunes blog page