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. 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 faces; 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.

Species

Subfamily Ictonychinae
TribeImageGenusLiving species
IctonychiniIctonyx Kaup, 1835
IctonychiniPoecilogale Thomas, 1883
  • African striped weasel, P. albinucha
    • IctonychiniVormela Blasius, 1884
  • Marbled polecat, V. peregusna
    • LyncodontiniLyncodon Gervais, 1845
  • Patagonian weasel, L. patagonicus
    • LyncodontiniGalictis Bell, 1826
  • Greater grison, G. vittata
  • Lesser grison, G. cuja

    • Fossil genera