Polecat - Wikipedia

Home » Why Are Skunks Called Polecats » Polecat - Wikipedia

Maybe your like

For other uses, see Polecat (disambiguation).
European polecat

Polecat is a common name for several cat-like mustelid species in the subfamilies Ictonychinae[1] and Mustelinae. Polecats do not form a single taxonomic rank (i.e. clade). The name is applied to several species with broad similarities to European polecats, such as having a dark mask-like marking across the face.

In the United States, the term polecat is sometimes applied to the black-footed ferret, a native member of the Mustelinae. In Southern United States dialect, the term polecat is sometimes used as a colloquial nickname for the skunk, which is part of the family Mephitidae.[2]

Greek mythology

[edit]

The polecat, in accordance with Greek mythology, is one of the symbols that represents Hekate along with two torches.[3][4]

It represents Hekate for two reasons, one being that Galinthias, the nurse of Alkmene was turned into a polecat and Hekate took pity on her. The other reason is that Gale the Witch was turned into a polecat as punishment by Hekate.[3]

Taxonomy

[edit]

According to the most recent taxonomic scheme proposing eight subfamilies within Mustelidae, polecats are classified as:

Subfamily Ictonychinae

  • Genus Ictonyx
    • Striped polecat, I. striatus, (native to Central, Southern, and sub-Saharan Africa)
    • Saharan striped polecat, I. libycus (Sahara)
  • Genus Vormela
    • Marbled polecat, V. peregusna (Southeastern Europe to western China)

Subfamily Mustelinae

  • Genus Mustela
    • Steppe polecat, M. eversmannii (Central and Eastern Europe, and Central Asia)
    • American polecat (Black-footed ferret) M. nigripes (Southwest United States)
    • European polecat, M. putorius (Western Eurasia and North Africa)
Mustelidae

Lutrinae

Mustela, Neogale (subfamily Mustelinae)

Galictis, Vormela, Ictonyx, Poecilogale (subfamily Galictinae)

Melogale (subfamily Helictidinae)

Eira, Gulo, Martes (subfamily Guloninae)

Arctonyx, Meles (subfamily Melinae)

Mellivora (subfamily Mellivorinae)

Taxidea (subfamily Taxideinae)

  • Striped polecat Striped polecat
  • Steppe polecat Steppe polecat
  • Black-footed ferret, the "American polecat" Black-footed ferret, the "American polecat"
  • European polecat European polecat
  • Marbled polecat Marbled polecat

See also

[edit]
  • Polecat–mink hybrid
  • Polecat–ferret hybrid

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Nascimento, Fabio Oliveira do (2014). "On the correct name for some subfamilies of Mustelidae (Mammalia, Carnivora)" (PDF). Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia. 54 (21): 307–313. doi:10.1590/0031-1049.2014.54.21. ISSN 0031-1049.
  2. ^ "Skunk Fact Sheet" (PDF). The Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division.
  3. ^ a b "What is the symbol of Hecate?". Answers.com. Retrieved 2025-08-05.
  4. ^ "HECATE (Hekate) - Greek Goddess of Witchcraft, Magic & Ghosts". Theoi Greek Mythology. Retrieved 2025-08-05.
  • v
  • t
  • e
Extant Carnivora species
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Chordata
  • Class: Mammalia
  • Infraclass: Eutheria
  • Superorder: Laurasiatheria
Feliformia ("cat-like" carnivorans)
Feliformia
  • African palm civet (Nandinia binotata)
Feloidea
Prionodon (Asiatic linsangs)
  • Banded linsang (P. linsang)
  • Spotted linsang (P. pardicolor)
Felidae (cats)
Pantherinae
Neofelis
  • Sunda clouded leopard (N. diardi)
  • Clouded leopard (N. nebulosa)
Panthera
  • Snow leopard (P. uncia)
  • Tiger (P. tigris)
  • Jaguar (P. onca)
  • Lion (P. leo)
  • Leopard (P. pardus)
Felinae sensu stricto
Bay catlineage
Pardofelis
  • Marbled cat (P. marmorata)
Catopuma
  • Bay cat (C. badia)
  • Asian golden cat (C. temminckii)
Caracallineage
  • Serval (Leptailurus serval)
Caracal
  • African golden cat (C. aurata)
  • Caracal (C. caracal)
Leopardus
  • Pampas cat (L. colocola)
  • Geoffroy's cat (L. geoffroyi)
  • Kodkod (L. guigna)
  • Southern tiger cat (L. guttulus)
  • Andean mountain cat (L. jacobita)
  • Ocelot (L. pardalis)
  • Oncilla (L. tigrinus)
  • Margay (L. wiedii)
Lynx
  • Canada lynx (L. canadensis)
  • Eurasian lynx (L. lynx)
  • Iberian lynx (L. pardinus)
  • Bobcat (L. rufus)
Pumalineage
Acinonyx
  • Cheetah (A. jubatus)
  • Jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi)
Puma
  • Cougar (P. concolor)
Leopard catlineage
  • Pallas's cat (Otocolobus manul)
Prionailurus
  • Leopard cat (P. bengalensis)
  • Sunda leopard cat (P. javanensis)
  • Flat-headed cat (P. planiceps)
  • Rusty-spotted cat (P. rubiginosus)
  • Fishing cat (P. viverrinus)
Felis
  • Chinese mountain cat (F. bieti)
  • Domestic cat (F. catus)
  • Jungle cat (F. chaus)
  • African wildcat (F. lybica)
  • Sand cat (F. margarita)
  • Black-footed cat (F. nigripes)
  • European wildcat (F. silvestris)
Viverroidea
    • see below↓
Viverroidea
Viverridae
Palm civets
Hemigalinae
  • Owston's palm civet (Chrotogale owstoni)
  • Otter civet (Cynogale bennettii)
  • Hose's palm civet (Diplogale hosei)
  • Banded palm civet (Hemigalus derbyanus)
Paradoxurinae
  • Binturong (Arctictis binturong)
  • Small-toothed palm civet (Arctogalidia trivirgata)
  • Sulawesi palm civet (Macrogalidia musschenbroekii)
  • Masked palm civet (Paguma larvata)
Paradoxurus
  • Asian palm civet (P. hermaphroditus)
  • Brown palm civet (P. jerdoni)
  • Golden palm civet (P. zeylonensis)
Viverrinae sensu lato
Viverrinaesensu stricto
  • Small Indian civet (Viverricula indica)
  • African civet (Civettictis civetta)
Viverra
  • Malabar large-spotted civet (V. civettina)
  • Large-spotted civet (V. megaspila)
  • Malayan civet (V. tangalunga)
  • Large Indian civet (V. zibetha)
Genettinae
Poiana(African linsangs)
  • Central African oyan (P. richardsonii)
  • West African oyan (P. leightoni)
Genetta(genets)
  • Abyssinian genet (G. abyssinica)
  • Angolan genet (G. angolensis)
  • Bourlon's genet (G. bourloni)
  • Crested servaline genet (G. cristata)
  • South African small-spotted genet (G. felina)
  • Common genet (G. genetta)
  • Johnston's genet (G. johnstoni)
  • Letaba genet (G. letabae)
  • Rusty-spotted genet (G. maculata)
  • Pardine genet (G. pardina)
  • Aquatic genet (G. piscivora)
  • King genet (G. poensis)
  • Schouteden's genet (G. schoutedeni)
  • Servaline genet (G. servalina)
  • Hausa genet (G. thierryi)
  • Cape genet (G. tigrina)
  • Giant forest genet (G. victoriae)
Herpestoidea
    • see below↓
Herpestoidea
Hyaenidae(hyenas)
Proteles
  • Aardwolf (P. cristata)
Hyaeninae(bone-crushing hyenas)
  • Striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena)
  • Brown hyena (Parahyaena brunnea)
Crocuta
  • Spotted hyena (C. crocuta)
Herpestidae sensu lato
Eupleridae(Malagasycarnivorans)
Euplerinae(Malagasy civets)
  • Fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox)
  • Malagasy civet (Fossa fossana)
Eupleres (falanoucs)
  • Eastern falanouc (E. goudotii)
  • Western falanouc (E. major)
Galidiinae(vontsira)
  • Ring-tailed vontsira (Galidia elegans)
Galidictis
  • Broad-striped Malagasy mongoose (G. fasciata)
  • Grandidier's mongoose (G. grandidieri)
  • Narrow-striped mongoose (Mungotictis decemlineata)
Salanoia
  • Brown-tailed mongoose (S. concolor)
  • Durrell's vontsira (S. durrelli)
Herpestidae sensu stricto (mongooses)
Mungotinae
Suricata
  • Meerkat (S. suricatta)
  • Liberian mongoose (Liberiictus kuhni)
Mungos
  • Gambian mongoose (M. gambianus)
  • Banded mongoose (M. mungo)
  • Pousargues's mongoose (Dologale dybowskii)
Helogale
  • Ethiopian dwarf mongoose (H. hirtula)
  • Common dwarf mongoose (H. parvula)
Crossarchus(kusimanses)
  • Alexander's kusimanse (C. alexandri)
  • Angolan kusimanse (C. ansorgei)
  • Common kusimanse (C. obscurus)
  • Flat-headed kusimanse (C. platycephalus)
Herpestinae
  • Marsh mongoose (Atilax paludinosus)
  • Long-nosed mongoose (Xenogale naso)
Urva(Asian mongooses)
  • Small Indian mongoose (U. auropunctata)
  • Short-tailed mongoose (U. brachyura)
  • Indian grey mongoose (U. edwardsii)
  • Indian brown mongoose (U. fusca)
  • Javan mongoose (U. javanica)
  • Collared mongoose (U. semitorquata)
  • Ruddy mongoose (U. smithii)
  • Crab-eating mongoose (U. urva)
  • Stripe-necked mongoose (U. vitticolla)
  • White-tailed mongoose (Ichneumia albicauda)
  • Yellow mongoose (Cynictis penicillata)
  • Selous's mongoose (Paracynictis selousi)
  • Meller's mongoose (Rhynchogale melleri)
Bdeogale
  • Bushy-tailed mongoose (B. crassicauda)
  • Jackson's mongoose (B. jacksoni)
  • Black-footed mongoose (B. nigripes)
Herpestes(slender mongooses)
  • Angolan slender mongoose (H. flavescens)
  • Egyptian mongoose (H. ichneumon)
  • Somalian slender mongoose (H. ochracea)
  • Cape gray mongoose (H. pulverulenta)
  • Common slender mongoose (H. sanguinea)
Caniformia ("dog-like" carnivorans)
Canidae (dogs)
Urocyon
  • Gray fox (U. cinereoargenteus)
  • Island fox (U. littoralis)
Vulpini
  • Bat-eared fox (Otocyon megalotis)
Nyctereutes(raccoon dogs)
  • Common raccoon dog (N. procyonoides)
  • Japanese raccoon dog (N. viverrinus)
Vulpes(true foxes)
  • Bengal fox (V. bengalensis)
  • Blanford's fox (V. cana)
  • Cape fox (V. chama)
  • Corsac fox (V. corsac)
  • Tibetan fox (V. ferrilata)
  • Arctic fox (V. lagopus)
  • Kit fox (V. macrotis)
  • Pale fox (V. pallida)
  • Rüppell's fox (V. rueppelli)
  • Swift fox (V. velox)
  • Red fox (V. vulpes)
  • Fennec fox (V. zerda)
Canini (true dogs)
Cerdocyonina(zorro)
  • Maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus)
Speothos
  • Bush dog (S. venaticus)
  • Short-eared dog (Atelocynus microtis)
  • Crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous)
Lycalopex(South American foxes)
  • Culpeo (L. culpaeus)
  • Darwin's fox (L. fulvipes)
  • South American gray fox (L. griseus)
  • Pampas fox (L. gymnocercus)
  • Sechuran fox (L. sechurae)
  • Hoary fox (L. vetulus)
Canina(wolf-like canids)
Lupulella
  • Side-striped jackal (L. adustus)
  • Black-backed jackal (L. mesomelas)
Lycaon
  • African wild dog (L. pictus)
  • Dhole (Cuon alpinus)
Canis
  • Golden jackal (C. aureus)
  • Domestic dog (C. familiaris)
  • Coyote (C. latrans)
  • African wolf (C. lupaster)
  • Wolf (C. lupus)
  • Eastern wolf (C. lycaon)
  • Red wolf (C. rufus)
  • Ethiopian wolf (C. simensis)
Arctoidea
Ursidae (bears)
Ailuropoda
  • Giant panda (A. melanoleuca)
Tremarctos
  • Spectacled bear (T. ornatus)
Ursinae
  • Sloth bear (Melursus ursinus)
  • Sun bear (Helarctos malayanus)
Ursus
  • American black bear (U. americanus)
  • Asian black bear (U. thibetanus)
  • Brown bear (U. arctos)
  • Polar bear (U. maritimus)
Mustelida
Pinnipedia (seals)
    • see below↓
Musteloidea
    • see below↓
Pinnipedia (seals)
Odobenidae
  • Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus)
Otariidae (eared seals)
Callorhinus(northern fur seals)
  • Northern fur seal (C. ursinus)
Otariinae(sea lions)
  • Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus)
Zalophus
  • California sea lion (Z. californianus)
  • Galápagos sea lion (Z. wollebaeki)
  • South American sea lion (Otaria flavescens)
Neophoca
  • Australian sea lion (N. cinerea)
  • New Zealand sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri)
Arctocephalus(southern fur seals)
  • South American fur seal (A. australis)
  • Australasian fur seal (A. forsteri)
  • Galápagos fur seal (A. galapagoensis)
  • Antarctic fur seal (A. gazella)
  • Juan Fernández fur seal (A. philippii)
  • Brown fur seal (A. pusillus)
  • Guadalupe fur seal (A. townsendi)
  • Subantarctic fur seal (A. tropicalis)
Phocidae (earless seals or true seals)
Phocinae("northern seals")
  • Bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus)
  • Hooded seal (Cystophora cristata)
Phocini
  • Harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus)
  • Ribbon seal (Histriophoca fasciata)
  • Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus)
Phoca
  • Spotted seal (P. largha)
  • Harbor seal (P. vitulina)
Pusa
  • Caspian seal (P. caspica)
  • Ringed seal (P. hispida)
  • Baikal seal (P. sibirica)
Monachinae("southern seals")
Monachini(monk seals)
  • Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus)
Neomonachus
  • Hawaiian monk seal (N. schauinslandi)
Mirounga(elephant seals)
  • Northern elephant seal (M. angustirostris)
  • Southern elephant seal (M. leonina)
Lobodontini(Antarctic seals)
  • Leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx)
  • Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii)
  • Crabeater seal (Lobodon carcinophagus)
  • Ross seal (Ommatophoca rossi)
Musteloidea
Ailuridae
  • Red panda (Ailurus fulgens)
Mephitidae (skunks)
Conepatus(hog-nosed skunks)
  • Molina's hog-nosed skunk (C. chinga)
  • Humboldt's hog-nosed skunk (C. humboldtii)
  • American hog-nosed skunk (C. leuconotus)
  • Striped hog-nosed skunk (C. semistriatus)
Mephitis
  • Hooded skunk (M. macroura)
  • Striped skunk (M. mephitis)
Mydaus(stink badgers)
  • Sunda stink badger (M. javanensis)
  • Palawan stink badger (M. marchei)
Spilogale(spotted skunks)
  • Southern spotted skunk (S. angustifrons)
  • Western spotted skunk (S. gracilis)
  • Eastern spotted skunk (S. putorius)
  • Pygmy spotted skunk (S. pygmaea)
Procyonidae
  • Kinkajou (Potos flavus)
Bassariscus
  • Ringtail (B. astutus)
  • Cacomistle (B. sumichrasti)
Procyon(raccoons)
  • Crab-eating raccoon (P. cancrivorus)
  • Raccoon (P. lotor)
  • Cozumel raccoon (P. pygmaeus)
Bassaricyon(olingos)
  • Eastern lowland olingo (B. alleni)
  • Northern olingo (B. gabbii)
  • Western lowland olingo (B. medius)
  • Olinguito (B. neblina)
Nasuina(coatis)
Nasua
  • White-nosed coati (N. narica)
  • South American coati (N. nasua)
Nasuella(mountain coatis)
  • Eastern mountain coati (N. meridensis)
  • Western mountain coati (N. olivacea)
Mustelidae
    • see below↓
Mustelidae
Mustelidae
  • American badger (Taxidea taxus)
Mellivora
  • Honey badger (M. capensis)
Melinae
Arctonyx(hog badgers)
  • Northern hog badger (A. albogularis)
  • Greater hog badger (A. collaris)
  • Sumatran hog badger (A. hoevenii)
Meles(Eurasian badgers)
  • Japanese badger (M. anakuma)
  • Caucasian badger (M. canescens)
  • Asian badger (M. leucurus)
  • European badger (M. meles)
Melogale(ferret-badgers)
  • Vietnam ferret-badger (M. cucphuongensis)
  • Bornean ferret badger (M. everetti)
  • Chinese ferret-badger (M. moschata)
  • Javan ferret-badger (M. orientalis)
  • Burmese ferret-badger (M. personata)
  • Formosan ferret-badger (M. subaurantiaca)
Guloninae
  • Tayra (Eira barbara)
Pekania
  • Fisher (P. pennanti)
Gulo
  • Wolverine (G. gulo)
Martes(martens)
  • American marten (M. americana)
  • Pacific marten (M. caurina)
  • Yellow-throated marten (M. flavigula)
  • Beech marten (M. foina)
  • Nilgiri marten (M. gwatkinsii)
  • European pine marten (M. martes)
  • Japanese marten (M. melampus)
  • Sable (M. zibellina)
Ictonychinae
Lyncodontini
  • Patagonian weasel (Lyncodon patagonicus)
Galictis(grisons)
  • Lesser grison (G. cuja)
  • Greater grison (G. vittata)
Ictonychini(African polecats)
Vormela
  • Marbled polecat (V. peregusna)
  • African striped weasel (Poecilogale albinucha)
Ictonyx
  • Saharan striped polecat (I. libycus)
  • Striped polecat (I. striatus)
Lutrinae (otters)
  • Giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis)
Lontra
  • North American river otter (L. canadensis)
  • Marine otter (L. felina)
  • Neotropical otter (L. longicaudis)
  • Southern river otter (L. provocax)
Enhydra
  • Sea otter (E. lutris)
  • Spotted-necked otter (Hydrictis maculicollis)
Lutra
  • Eurasian otter (L. lutra)
  • Hairy-nosed otter (L. sumatrana)
Lutrogale
  • Smooth-coated otter (L. perspicillata)
Aonyx
  • African clawless otter (A. capensis)
  • Asian small-clawed otter (A. cinereus)
  • Congo clawless otter (A. congicus)
Mustelinae
Neogale(New World weasels)
  • Amazon weasel (N. africana)
  • Colombian weasel (N. felipei)
  • Long-tailed weasel (N. frenata)
  • American mink (N. vison)
Mustela(weasels)
subgenus Mustela(paraphyletic)
  • Sichuan weasel (M. aistoodonnivalis)
  • Mountain weasel (M. altaica)
  • Stoat/Beringian ermine (M. erminea)
  • Haida ermine (M. haidarum)
  • Yellow-bellied weasel (M. kathiah)
  • Least weasel (M. nivalis)
  • American ermine (M. richardsonii)
subgenus Lutreola(paraphyletic)
  • Japanese weasel (M. itatsi)
  • European mink (M. lutreola)
  • Indonesian mountain weasel (M. lutreolina)
  • Malayan weasel (M. nudipes)
  • Siberian weasel (M. sibirica)
  • Back-striped weasel (M. strigidorsa)
subgenus Putorius
  • Steppe polecat (M. eversmannii)
  • Ferret (M. furo)
  • Black-footed ferret (M. nigripes)
  • European polecat (M. putorius)
  • See also: Mink
  • Polecat
Disambiguation iconIndex of animals with the same common nameThis page is an index of articles on animal species (or higher taxonomic groups) with the same common name (vernacular name). If an internal link led you here, you may wish to edit the linking article so that it links directly to the intended article.

Tag » Why Are Skunks Called Polecats