habitat_narrative
Terrestrial
Zorillas are highly adaptable and exhibit a wide habitat tolerance, as they are found in open grassland, savannah woodland, thornbush, rocky habitats, agricultural areas, forest, and even desert (usually along drainage lines, provided there is some scrub cover). They are absent from the dense evergreen forests of the Congo basin and West Africa (Stuart & Stuart 2013). It was noted that, during dry years, their distribution extended further eastwards, receding westwards (to drier regions) during times of high rainfall (Rowe-Rowe & Taylor 1996).Zorillas are carnivorous, with insects and murids predominating in their diet. They are also known to occasionally supplement their diet with reptiles, amphibians, birds, spiders, scorpions, centipedes and millipedes (Stuart 1981; Rautenbach 1982; Lynch 1983; Smithers 1983). Competition between this species and the African Striped Weasel is reduced somewhat by the Zorillaâs more diverse diet and adaptable habits (Rowe-Rowe 1978a).
Zorillas are generally solitary, but pairs and family groups are occasionally sighted (Rowe-Rowe 1992). They are entirely nocturnal (Shortridge 1934; Smithers 1971), resting during the day in rock crevices, burrows, under buildings or in hollow logs (Shortridge 1934; Smithers 1971; Stuart 1981).
In the assessment region, Zorillas mate and give birth between August and December (Rowe-Rowe 1978b; Stuart 1981; Rautenbach 1982). However, females who lose their young likely mate again, as demonstrated in captivity (Rowe-Rowe 1978b). Generally one to three young are born after a gestation period of 36 days. Postnatal physical and behavioural development has been studied thoroughly (Rowe-Rowe 1978b). Rowe-Rowe (1992) estimated longevity in the wild at 4â5 years.
Ecosystem and cultural services: Zorillas may locally have a predatory impact on small rodents (e.g. Rattus spp.). This is especially true in agricultural areas, where rodents feed on crops and dung of domestic farm animals (Kingdon 1977). In pastures, Zorillas consume beetle larvae that feed on roots and grasses (Kingdon 1977).
