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Polecat is the common name for mammals in the order Carnivora and subfamily Mustelinae. Polecats do not form a single taxonomic rank; the name is applied to several species broadly similar to European polecats, the only species living natively on the British Isles. In the United States, the term ''polecat'' is sometimes applied to the black-footed ferret, a native member of the Mustelinae, and loosely to skunks, which are only distantly related. Despite the name, polecats are more related to dogs than cats, since they belong to the suborder of Caniformiae. ==Systematics== According to the systematic theory proposing two subfamilies within Mustelidae, the polecats are classified as: Subfamily Mustelinae *Genus ''Ictonyx'' * *Striped polecat, ''I. striatus'' * *Saharan striped polecat, ''I. libycus'' *Genus ''Mustela'' * *Steppe polecat, ''M. eversmannii'' * *American polecat (Black-footed ferret) ''M. nigripes'' * *European polecat, ''M. putorius'' *Genus ''Vormela'' * *Marbled polecat, ''V. peregusna'' A more recent classification based on genetic analysis suggests that Mustelidae should be divided into eight subfamilies, one of which is the Mustelinae. } |2= }} |2=''Mellivora'' (subfamily Mellivorinae)}} |2=''Taxidea'' (subfamily Taxideinae)}} }} |} Note: In much of the United States the word "polecat" is almost exclusively applied to skunks. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「polecat」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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