Identification Characteristics:
The Small-toothed Ferret Badger ( Melogale moschata) weighs 3-5 kg, with a body length of 540-610 mm and a tail length of 162-180 mm. It has a small head, a short and slightly pointed snout, and short legs. The coat is long and coarse, with a reddish-yellow coloration and gray-tipped hairs. The head, snout, and paws are black. The tail is approximately one-third the length of the body, with thick, gray fur.
Biology and Ecology:
The Small-toothed Ferret Badger inhabits shrub savannas, agricultural land, and areas along streams. It is a solitary animal, foraging from dusk to midnight in fields, along streams, and near rice paddies. It is a secretive and cautious creature. Its diet consists of earthworms, grasshoppers, snails, frogs, and various roots, fruits, and seeds of crops within its habitat. Reproduction occurs in April, May, and June. Gestation lasts 60 days, with 3-4 offspring per litter born in self-made nests in dense bushes. The young reach sexual maturity at 10 months.
Distribution:
The Small-toothed Ferret Badger is found in the Russian Far East (formerly the Soviet Union), Korea, China, and Northern Vietnam.
Uses:
This species, belonging to the Canidae family, is beneficial to agricultural and forestry production. It has scientific research value and can be kept as a pet in parks and zoos.
Conservation Status:
The Small-toothed Ferret Badger is becoming increasingly rare; therefore, conservation measures are required. Hunting of this rare species is prohibited.