SUBSPECIFIC STUDY ON THE FERRET BADGER (MELOGALE MOSCHATA ) IN CHINA, WITH DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SUBSPECIES
ZHENG Yonglie1, XU Longhui2
1983, 3(2):
165-171.
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This paper gives a systematic review of the ferret badger (Melogalc moschata ) recorded from China. In this species, 6 subspecies are recognized, in which 5 occur in China. The specimens discovered in Guanxi belong to M. m. taxilla, and is new record of subspecies in China. The specimens discovered in western Guangdong and Hainan Island,have been ever considered as M. m. moschala with in 50 years, but it is recognized as a new subspeoies now, and is described as follows:Melogale moschata Ilainanensis, subsp. nov.Holotype- No. 051,, adult, collected on January 26, 1963 from Dali, Hainan Island.Paratypc: No. 0188,, 0479,, adult. collected on January 24,1963 and on December 29, 1964 from Mountain Ba wangling, Mountain Dinoluo of Hainan Island. The type specimen arc deposited in the (Juangdong Institute of Entomology.Diagnosis: The dorsum is brown-tan in colour,the abdomen is apricot yellow. The tail likes a broom. Interorbilal breadth is narrower. Discrip-tion: The colour of the body, deep and bright, dorsum the body, brown-tan; needle-hair without white tip; the forehead has a apricot yellow stain, the colour of the body sides is paler, and is mingled slightly apricot yellow hair tipe. The lower part of the body is apricot yellow from jaw to the base of tail; hair of tail is hard and flully, the tipe of tail likes a broom.Skull strong, interorbital breadth narrow, generally smaller than 20mm; zygomatic arch, wide and hard; temporal ridges, straight forward and thickened.