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The stripe‐backed weasel Mustela strigidorsa : taxonomy, ecology, distribution and status
Author(s) -
ABRAMOV A. V.,
DUCKWORTH J. W.,
WANG Y. X.,
ROBERTON S. I.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
mammal review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.574
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1365-2907
pISSN - 0305-1838
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2907.2008.00115.x
Subject(s) - weasel , ecology , geography , habitat , range (aeronautics) , conservation status , mustelidae , montane ecology , evergreen forest , evergreen , biology , predation , materials science , composite material
1 The stripe‐backed weasel Mustela strigidorsa is one of the rarest and least‐known mustelids in the world. Its phylogenetic relationships with other Mustela species remain controversial, though several unique morphological features distinguish it from congeners. 2 It probably lives mainly in evergreen forests in hills and mountains, but has also been recorded from plains forest, dense scrub, secondary forest, grassland and farmland. Known sites range in altitude from 90 m to 2500 m. Data are insufficient to distinguish between habitat and altitudes which support populations, and those where only dispersing animals may occur. 3 It has been confirmed from many localities in north‐east India, north and central Myanmar, south China, north Thailand, north and central Laos, and north and central Vietnam. Given the limited survey effort, the number of recent records shows that the species is not as rare as hitherto believed. Neither specific nor urgent conservation needs are apparent.