Formosan ferret-badger
Illustration by Joseph Wolf
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Mustelidae
Genus: Melogale
Species:
M. subaurantiaca
Binomial name
Melogale subaurantiaca
(Swinhoe, 1862)

The Formosan ferret-badger (Melogale subaurantiaca) is a mustelid species endemic to Taiwan.

Taxonomy

It was formerly thought to be conspecific with the Chinese ferret-badger (M. moschata), but a 2019 genetic study found it to represent a distinct species, and the American Society of Mammalogists later reclassified it as a distinct species.[1] However, many authorities like the IUCN Red List still consider it conspecific with M. moschata.[2]

Distribution

The species is endemic to the island of Taiwan.[3]

Reproduction

Male Formosan ferret-badgers produce sperm between the months of February and September, and mate with females between March and October. The species is thought to have a litter size of two, and breeds once a year.[4]

Threats

A 2015 study analyzing specimens of M. subaurantiaca collected between 2010 and 2013 found evidence of rabies in just under half of the sampled individuals, indicating that a rabies epidemic hit the species at some point prior to the study.[5] This was the first time rabies had been detected on Taiwan since it was declared rabies-free in 1961. The species is now thought to be a reservoir species for the rabies virus on Taiwan, and as of 2019, it has become an epidemic in eastern Taiwan; however, epidemics in western and southern Taiwan had subsided by then. Aside from the threats posed to the species, there have been reports of spillover from the ferret-badgers to pets and humans. Vaccination will be necessary to serve as a barrier to the disease and prevent further spillover.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Rozhnov, V. V.; Korablev, M. P.; Abramov, A. V. (2019-03-01). "Systematics and Distribution of Ferret Badgers Melogale (Mammalia, Mustelidae) in Vietnam: First Genetic Data". Doklady Biological Sciences. 485 (1): 47–51. doi:10.1134/S001249661902008X. ISSN 1608-3105. PMID 31197594. S2CID 189763275.
  2. ↑ Alexei Abramov (Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences; Timmins, Rob; Group, William Duckworth (IUCN SSC Small Carnivore Specialist; Group), IUCN SSC Deer Specialist; Foundation), Anwaruddin Choudhury (The Rhino; Lau (WWF), Michael; Long (WWF-US), Barney; Roberton, Scott; Willcox, Daniel (2015-03-03). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Melogale moschata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  3. ↑ "Explore the Database". www.mammaldiversity.org. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  4. ↑ Pei, K.; Wang, Y. (1995). "Some Observations on the Reproduction of the Taiwan Ferret Badger (Melogale Moschata Subaurantiaca) in Southern Taiwan". Zoological Studies. S2CID 67805605.
  5. ↑ Chang, Jen-Chieh; Tsai, Kuo-Jung; Hsu, Wei-Cheng; Tu, Yang-Chang; Chuang, Wei-Chieh; Chang, Chia-Yi; Chang, Shih-Wei; Lin, Te-En; Fang, Kuo-Yun; Chang, Yung-Fu; Tsai, Hsiang-Jung (October 2015). "Rabies Virus Infection in Ferret Badgers (Melogale moschata subaurantiaca) in Taiwan: A Retrospective Study". Journal of Wildlife Diseases. 51 (4): 923–928. doi:10.7589/2015-04-090. ISSN 0090-3558. PMID 26267459. S2CID 33882859.
  6. ↑ Tu, Wen-Jane; Wang, Mei-Chuan; Jau, Guo-Chin; Tsai, Cheng-Ta; Lin, Chung-Ching; Inoue, Satoshi; Butudom, Prawit; Lai, Cheng-Hung; Fei, Chang-Young (2020-12-03). "A study of the temporal dynamics and human exposure to the Formosan ferret-badger (Melogale moschata subaurantiaca) rabies, 2013 to 2019, Taiwan". The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine. 50 (4): 543–548. ISSN 0125-6491.
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