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Distribution and Status This species is absent from Africa and has
a very limited distribution in Arabia. It is only known from Israel and
Palestine and Lebanon, although there are a few records from Syria and
just one from northern Saudi Arabia near the Jordanian border. It occurs
in both the European and Asian sectors of Turkey where there is suitable
habitat, but it is not clear how widespread it is. In Iran it is widespread in
the north from East Azarbaijan in the west to Seistan in the south-east.
It occurs in a broad belt beyond the region to eastern China.
Conservation Areas Several in its Iranian range and possibly Israel,
otherwise none known.
STRIPED POLECAT Poecilictis libyca and Ictonyx striatus
Identification Also known as the Saharan Striped Weasel or Libyan
Striped Weasel, Poecilictis libyca is a distinctive carnivore with
conspicuous black and white markings on its face and longish black
and white hair on its body (white dominates). Its tail is bushy and
mostly white, and the hair on its legs is shorter and black. The similar
Ictonyx striatus has an extensive sub-Saharan range and may be
encountered in the southern range limits of this species in Mauritania
and the Red Sea Hills of northern Sudan. The black and white body
markings are more clearly defined in Ictonyx, and it has a white spot
on its forehead. Poecilictis usually has a distinctive white band across
the face, above the eyes.
Size Total length 34–50 cm.