Chinese ferret-badger
Chinese sunroof ( Melogale moschata)
The Chinese sunroof ( Melogale moschata ) is a species of the genus sun badgers. They are found in Southern China and adjacent parts of Southeast Asia.
Features
The Chinese sunroof is very similar to the Burma -badger, whose distribution area adjacent to the south. The Chinese type reaches a body length of 30-40 cm. The tail measures 10-15 cm, which is shorter than half the body length. When similar Burma -badger he is, however, a little longer. The body weight is about 0.8 to 1.6 kg. As with all sun badgers, the body is quite slender, the snout long. The coat color of the Chinese sun badger varies from black to gray. In particular, the head and neck, the basic color is dark and contrasts strikingly with the white areas. The white areas of the head markings are generally less extensive than in the Burma -badger. However, this feature is quite variable. Another distinguishing feature is the white neck line, which is less pronounced than in the Burma -badger and do not normally extend further than to the shoulders. The tail is light brown with white lace and relatively bushy. The grave claws are well developed, the females have two teats. Compared to the Burma -badger teeth are much smaller.
Distribution, numbers and subspecies
The Chinese sunroof is found in southern China, northern Myanmar, Northeast India, Vietnam, Laos, and on the islands of Hainan and Taiwan. The species is not considered threatened. The exact stock situation, however, little is known. In Vietnam and Laos, where the distribution areas of Burma sunroof and Chinese sunroof adjacent to each other, an allocation for each type of is difficult. Outstanding amounts are therefore to be considered with reservation.
We distinguish the following sub- types:
- M. m. moschata (Gray, 1831): North China in Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan and on Hainan Island and in Laos
- M. m. ferreogrisea ( Hilzheimer, 1905): Central China
- M. m. millsi (Thomas, 1922): Northwest Yunnan (China) over northern Myanmar to North-East India
- M. m. sorella (G. M. Allen, 1929): Fujian (China)
- M. m. subaurantiaca ( Swinhoe, 1862): Taiwan
- M. m. Taxilla (Thomas, 1925): Vietnam
Way of life
The habitat of the Chinese sun roof are tropical and subtropical forests, grasslands and cultivated land. It feeds versatile of invertebrates (worms, insects), small mammals, birds, frogs, lizards, eggs and fruit. Chinese solar Badgers are mainly nocturnal and crepuscular. They live solitary and usually stay on the ground, but can also climb. Little is known about the size of home ranges. A study in China, but only takes into account the distribution of the daily sleep camp, gave a mean value of about 11 ha per animal. The mating season is in March, the boys seem to come in May after a gestation period of about 60-80 days to the world. A litter includes one to four cubs are born blind, but hairy to the world.