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EU Polecat


EU Polecat
Photo Information
Copyright: Ralf Lukovic (ralfsworld) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 503 W: 88 N: 1796] (6056)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-05-01
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon 20D, Canon 100-400L 4.5-5.6 IS USM
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): zoologist's other favorites [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-12-10 1:46
Viewed: 530
Points: 22
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Today's post is from my archives. I found this guy somewhere in the forest (Kalmar area) and made few shot before he despaired... 20D @ 400mm, handold.

The European Polecat (Mustela putorius), also known as a fitch, is a member of the Mustelidae family, and is related to the stoats, otters, weasels, and minks. They are dark brown with a lighter bandit-like mask across the face, pale yellow underbody fur, a long tail and short legs. They are somewhat larger than weasels, weighing between 0.7 kg for females to 1.7 kg for males, but smaller than otters.

Range, habitat and ecology

Polecats are found throughout Europe countries. They are mainly nocturnal and are found in woodlands, farmlands, and wetlands. They often make dens in stream banks or under tree roots. Almost entirely carnivorous, they feed largely on small mammals such as voles and rats and, seasonally, on frogs and toads. Small birds and insects are a much smaller component of their diet. They require a home range of about a square kilometer. The pattern of polecat predation on frogs was found to be sex selective and predation by polecats is found to influence sex ratio, male abundance and sexual conflict in a frog mating system, restricting the opportunity for multiple mating.

Reproduction

Though polecats are chiefly polygynous, females can show polyandry and the sexual conflict aspect of the mating system can change with environmental conditions. Sexual conflict may result in sexually antagonistic co-evolution, in which one sex evolves a "manipulative" character which is countered by a "resistance" trait in the other sex. Deliberate homosexuality has also been observed in wild polecats.

Polecats (mainly dark phenotype) are able to hybridize with the rare European mink and have fertile hybrids, In some parts of England, the abandoning of domestic ferrets has led to ferret-polecat hybrids living in the wild that are almost indistinguishable from pure polecats.
Rolf, mariki, Argus, fiyo, JoseMiguel, SelenE has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Extraordinary wildlife photo, Ralf.
Technically well done and it is a beauty as well!
Congrats
TFS
Annick

  • Great 
  • fiyo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 924 W: 5 N: 2259] (8370)
  • [2007-12-10 2:54]

Hello Ralf,
Lovely capture.POV,colors,framing and visual impact are excellent. TFS

Hi Ralf,
Excellent capture of this unknown mammal to me.
I like very much the pose caught with the head turn sideways, in which we can enjoy all the beauty of its fur.
It's very good also the composition made, with the inclusion of the greens of the leaves down and the nicely blurred background at the top.
My compliments and thanks for share it.
Best regards,
JM

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2615 W: 133 N: 7512] (23431)
  • [2007-12-10 7:44]

Hej Ralf,
A real beauty, this Polecat!
You were lucky to be able to take a shot of this shy creature and to take such a technically fine shot with excellent sharpness, lighting and colours is a real bonus.
Well done and thanks!
Hälsningar,
Ivan

Hello Ralf,

Very nice capture of this polecat. Beautiful composition. Good POV and DOF. Nice natural colours.
Cheers,
Mariki

Hello Ralf,
Very beautiful and cute fellow well captured!
good pov with total sharpness, vivid colour and so much details to enjoy and view
thanks for the wonderful notes
well done
best regards
Tony

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1331 W: 107 N: 4825] (21400)
  • [2007-12-10 9:15]

Hello Ralf, great shot ! That's a beautiful animal and you've done a great job in capturing it. Very well composed and great technique too. Thanks !

Mario

  • Great 
  • Adam73 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 209 W: 5 N: 500] (2069)
  • [2007-12-10 10:41]

Beautiful just beautiful. White balance looks perfect, lighitng is wonderful and the framing and composition is superb. I love the DOF as well. Perfect shot!!!!

  • Great 
  • Rolf Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 59 W: 0 N: 27] (196)
  • [2007-12-10 13:32]

Hi Ralf
Very nice capture of this polecat with excellent details.
TFS
Rolf

Hi Ralf, cute creature in lovely pose, good composition with splendid details and wonderful sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2352 W: 61 N: 3814] (12240)
  • [2007-12-12 13:11]

Hi Ralf,
Nice capture of this cute guy with very good focus, sharpness, details, POV, composition and lighting. TFS
Best wishes,
Selen

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