Striped polecats (Ictonyx striatus), or the African zorilla, are small carnivores that look like North American skunks but aren't. They're more closely related to weasels and have smaller, slender bodies.
There are plenty of fun facts about this creature, like what they actually use a stink gland for, and more. Let's take a closer look at the striped polecat.
1. Striped Polecats Are the Skunk’s Doppelgänger
(Credit: Karel Bock/Getty Images)
If a striped polecat looked at a North American skunk or vice versa, they might think they were looking in a mirror. Striped polecats have a coarse, thick black coat with white patches and stripes. However, the difference between their coat lies in the patterns of their coloring. Striped polecats have a white patch on their foreheads and white underneath their ears.
