Ictonychinae


Ictonychinae is a subfamily of the mammal family Mustelidae found mainly in the Neotropics and Africa, with one Eurasian member. It includes the grisons, Patagonian weasel, striped polecats, African striped weasel and marbled polecat, respectively. These genera were formerly included within a paraphyletic definition of the mustelid subfamily Mustelinae.
Most members have a mask-like bar or larger dark marking across their face; the African representatives of the group are striped. A defense mechanism common to the group is use of a chemical spray similar to that of skunks.

Extant species

'Subfamily Ictonychinae
ImageGenusLiving Species
Galictis Bell, 1826
Ictonyx Kaup, 1835
  • Striped polecat, I. striatus
  • Saharan striped polecat, I. libycus
  • Lyncodon Gervais, 1845
  • Patagonian weasel, L. patagonicus
  • Poecilogale Thomas, 1883
  • African striped weasel, P. albinucha
  • Vormela Blasius, 1884
  • Marbled polecat, V. peregusna''