01989 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Reproduction of this publication for educational and other non-commercial purposes is authorized without permission of the copyright holder, provided the source is cited and the copyright holder receives copies of the reproduced material. Reproduction for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission by the copyright holder. ISBN 2-88032-976-O Published by: IUCN, Gland, Switzerland. Printed by: Kelvyn Press, Inc., Broadview, Illinois, United States of America Cover painting: Otter civet (Cynogale bennettii). (Painting by C. Brenders) Weasels, Civets, Mongooses, and their Relatives An Action Plan for the Conservation of Mustelids and Viverrids A. Schreiber, R. Wirth, M. Riffel, and H. Van Rompaey IUCN/SSC Mustelid and Viverrid Specialist Group ARTEN “ND POPUtATIONSSCI-1IJTZ Contents Page Page Foreword ................................................................................. ii Chapter 5. Four Different Approaches Recommended for Conservation Action .......................................... 66 ... Acknowledgements ............................................................... 111 5.1 Establishment and Effective Management of Reserves......................................................................... 66 Introduction ........................................................................... iv 5.2 Field Surveys ................................................................. 69 5.3 Research ........................................................................ 70 Chapter 1. Why Should We Conserve Mustelids and 5.4 Captive Breeding ........................................................... 71 Viverrids ............................................................... 1 1 .l Overview of the Two Families ........................................ 1 Chapter 6. Priorities for Mustelid and Viverrid 1.2 Pelts, Pets, and Pest Killers-the Cultural and Economic Conservation ...................................................... 72 Significance of Mustelids and Viverrids ......................... 1 6.1 Priority Rating Criteria .................................................. 72 1.3 What Science Stands to Lose from the Extinction of 6.2 Priority Species .............................................................. 73 Mustelids and Viverrids .................................................. 3 6.3 Core Areas for Mustelid and Viverrid Conservation .. ..7 5 6.4 Priority Projects for Conservation Action .................... .75 Chapter 2. Classification and Diversity of Mustelids and Viverrids ............................................................... 4 Appendix 1: Nations with Mustelids and Viverrids of 2.1 Mustelidae ....................................................................... 5 Conservation Concern .................................... 81 2.2 Viverridae ........................................................................ 8 Appendix 2: Summaries of Recommended Conservation Chapter 3. The Threats Facing Mustelids and Viverrids.. 13 Action on a National Basis .............................. 83 3.1 Habitat Destruction ........................................................ 13 3.2 The Fragmentation of Populations ................................ 13 Appendix 3: List of Possibly Threatened Mustelids and 3.3 Hunting and Trapping .................................................... 14 Viverrids .......................................................... 91 3.4 Genetic Introgression ..................................................... 14 Appendix 4: Rationale for Species and Subspecies Chapter 4. Accounts of Mustelids and Viverrids Known Recognition ...................................................... 94 or Likely to be Threatened ............................... 15 4.1 List of Species and Subspecies of Conservation References .............................................................................. 95 Concern .......................................................................... 15 4.2 Data Sheets of Mustelids and Viverrids of Conservation Index of Threatened Mustelids and Viverrids .................. .99 Concern .......................................................................... 16 r-oreword The IUCN Species Survival Commission plays an important I wish to thank the four authors for preparing this Action Plan, role, through its Specialist Groups, in encouraging professional and the members of the IUCN/SSC Mustelid and Viverrid Special- biologists and naturalists to focus on the conservation needs of ist Group, and other people, who contributed information and many groups of organisms, many of which are threatened or support. I hope that the Action Plan will prove successfulin endangered. This Action Plan for the conservation of mustelids catalyzing the necessary measure for the conservation of these and viverrids (including mongooses) is a plan developed by one of fascinating animals. the Specialist Groups of the Species Survival Commision. It summarizes the state of existing knowledge,, including an assess- Robert S. Hoffmann ment of threats and strategies for dealing with those threats. As Assistant Secretary for Research such, the Action Plan will need to be updated regularly. Action Smithsonian Institution Plans review information about classification, distribution, and Washington, D.C. 20560 ecology in the detail required to focus on the conservation needs. United States of America They represent a most important means by which the talents of biologists and conservationists can be coordinated to develop priorities and plans for the conservation of organisms. ii Acknowledgements The preparation of this document would have been impossible allowed us to reproduce two of his paintings (one as the cover without the assistance of numerous experts who were prepared to illustration). These paintings were photographed by C.M. Anthi- contribute their knowledge. We gratefully acknowledge the assis- evens for reproduction in this publication. Mrs. G. Adam repro- tance of the following colleagues who sent particularly detailed in- duced most of the photographs, and Donata Mayer improved the formation on the status of various species: A.J. Braun (European maps. mink in France), G. Ceballos and A.D. Cuaron (Mexican muste- Simon Stuart and Roger Cox graciously consented to improve lids), M. Colyn (Zairean viverrids), R. Izor and J. Rodriguez the English style. (Colombian weasel), KU. Karanth and G.U. Kurup (southwest Prof. Dr. Gerhard Sauer’s permission for us to use the computer Indian species), and M. Nicoll (Malagasy viverrids). Other scien- facilities of the Institut fur Virusforschung (Deutsches tists, government officials and naturalists who corresponded and Krebsforschungszentrum, Heidelberg) for producing the text of supported us with advice include: I. Aggundey, R. Albignac, T.N. this action plan was most valuable. Bailey, M. Balakrishnan, M. Ben-David, T. Clark, K. Curry- Numerous other people have supported us in one way or another Lindahl, E. Davidar, A.G. Davies, M. Delibes, J.F. Eisenberg, J. and we apologize for not listing them all here. Fanshawe, R. Faust, Gao Yaoting, C. Groves, A. Harestad, H. We take the responsibility for any errors, omissions or biases Hemmer, J. Hillman, T. Hoffmann, S. Humphrey, M.L. Jones, M. still present in this document, particularly in the few cases where Kaal, B. Krystufek, T. Kvam, H. 0. Larsson, A. Legakis, A. conflicting views of experts could not be resolved, and decisions Liebermann, T. Maran, J. McNeely, R.A. Mead, H. Mendelssohn, had to be made as to which perspective to follow. J. Nabhitabhata, J. Niethammer, R.M. Nowak, V. Nugedoda, H. Finally, we wish to thank the International Fur Trade Federation Obara, B. Olgara, Y. Ono, W. Oliver, J. Payne, R.A. Powell, E. for funding the production of this action plan, and also the World Pulliainen, U. Rahm, R. Ratajszczak, J. Romanowski, C. Santia- Wide Fund for Nature-International for supporting the IUCN pillai, D. Schlitter, A. Senosiain, V. Spitsin, A. Subhawickrama, Species Survival Commission’s Action Planning process in gen- M. Tatara, M.E. Taylor, J. Thornback, T. Thome, R. Tilson, C. van eral. Zyll de Jong, C. Wemmer, A. Wijesinghe, C. Wozencraft, D.W. In addition, the Zoologische Gesellschaft fur Arten-und Popu- . Yalden, and Wang Ying-Xiang. lationsschutz generously paid for the screening of the photos in this We also wish to thank the curators of the mammal sections of Action Plan. the following museums for access to their collections, or for Amd Schreiber valuable information: I.R. Bishop and D.M. Hill, British Museum Zoologisches Institut (Natural History), London; C. Smeenk, Rijksmuseum van University of Heidelberg Natuurlijke Historie, Leiden; M. Louette and D. Meirte, Konin- Im Neuenheimer Feld 230 klijk Museum voor Midden-Afrika, Tervuren; G. Peters, Museum 6900 Heidelberg Alexander Konig, Bonn; H. Schliemann, Zoologisches Museum, Federal Republic of Germany Hamburg; D. Kock, Senckenberg Museum, Frankfurt; R. Kraft, Zoologische Staatssammlungen, Munchen; M.E. Rutzmoser, Roland Wirth Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge (Mass.); M. Franz-Senn-Strasse 14 Boeadi, Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, Bogor; B. Krystufek, 8000 Munchen 70 Prirodo Slovni Muzej Slovenije, Ljubljana. Federal Republic of Germany The following people and institutions have generously contrib- Michael Riffel uted photographs free of charge: R. Albignac, M. Colyn, W. Hebelstrasse 5 Dreier, C. Fametti, Okapia