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Weasels
Weasels are mammals of the genus ''Mustela'' of the family Mustelidae. The genus ''Mustela'' includes the least weasels, polecats, stoats, ferrets and European mink. Members of this genus are small, active predators, with long and slender bodies and short legs. The family Mustelidae, or mustelids (which also includes badgers, otters, and wolverines), is often referred to as the "weasel family". In the UK, the term "weasel" usually refers to the smallest species, the least weasel (''M. nivalis''), the smallest carnivoran species. Least weasels vary in length from , females being smaller than the males, and usually have red or brown upper coats and white bellies; some populations of some species moult to a wholly white coat in winter. They have long, slender bodies, which enable them to follow their prey into burrows. Their tails may be from long. Weasels feed on small mammals and have from time to time been considered vermin because some species took poultry from farms or ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Least Weasel
The least weasel (''Mustela nivalis''), little weasel, common weasel, or simply weasel is the smallest member of the genus '' Mustela,'' family Mustelidae and order Carnivora. It is native to Eurasia, North America and North Africa, and has been introduced to New Zealand, Malta, Crete, the Azores, and São Tomé. It is classified as least concern by the IUCN, due to its wide distribution and large population throughout the Northern Hemisphere. The least weasel varies greatly in size over its range. The body is slender and elongated, and the legs and tail are relatively short. The colour varies geographically, as does the pelage type and length of tail. The dorsal surface, flanks, limbs and tail of the animal are usually some shade of brown while the underparts are white. The line delineating the boundary between the two colours is usually straight. At high altitudes and in the northern part of its range, the coat becomes pure white in winter. Eighteen subspecies are recognised. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Least Weasel
The least weasel (''Mustela nivalis''), little weasel, common weasel, or simply weasel is the smallest member of the genus '' Mustela,'' family Mustelidae and order Carnivora. It is native to Eurasia, North America and North Africa, and has been introduced to New Zealand, Malta, Crete, the Azores, and São Tomé. It is classified as least concern by the IUCN, due to its wide distribution and large population throughout the Northern Hemisphere. The least weasel varies greatly in size over its range. The body is slender and elongated, and the legs and tail are relatively short. The colour varies geographically, as does the pelage type and length of tail. The dorsal surface, flanks, limbs and tail of the animal are usually some shade of brown while the underparts are white. The line delineating the boundary between the two colours is usually straight. At high altitudes and in the northern part of its range, the coat becomes pure white in winter. Eighteen subspecies are recognised. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Japanese Weasel
The Japanese weasel (''Mustela itatsi'') is a carnivorous mammal belonging to the genus '' Mustela'' in the family Mustelidae. The most closely related ''Mustela'' species is the Siberian weasel (''Mustela sibirica''). Its taxonomic species name, ''itatsi,'' is based on the Japanese word for weasel, ''itachi (イタチ).'' It is native to Japan where it occurs on the islands of Honshū, Kyūshū and Shikoku. It has been introduced to Hokkaidō and the Ryukyu Islands to control rodents and has also been introduced to Sakhalin Island in Russia.Kodansha (1993) ''Japan: an illustrated encyclopedia'', Kodansha, Tokyo. It has an orange-brown coloured fur coat with darker markings on the head and varies in size depending on its gender. They have a long slender body, a long tail, relatively short legs and sharp claws. It is often confused with the Siberian weasel which has a different ratio of tail to head and body length. Unlike other species of weasels, their coat does not chang ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
American Ermine
The American ermine or American stoat (''Mustela richardsonii'') is a species of mustelid native to most of North America. Taxonomy It was long considered conspecific with the stoat (''M. erminea''), but a 2021 study found it to be a distinct species, forming distinct genetic clades from ''erminea''. The finding has been accepted by the American Society of Mammalogists. The Haida ermine (''M. haidarum'') is thought to be a hybrid species originating from ancient hybridization between ''M. erminea'' and ''M. richardsonii''. The specific epithet refers to Arctic explorer and naturalist John Richardson. Distribution The species is found throughout most of North America aside from most of Alaska (although it is found on some islands in southeastern Alaska), eastern Yukon, most of Arctic Canada, and Greenland, where it is replaced by '' M. erminea''. It reaches the northern extent of its range in Baffin Island and a portion of eastern mainland Nunavut and ranges from here to c ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Haida Ermine
The Haida ermine (''Mustela haidarum'') is a mustelid species endemic to a few islands off the Pacific Northwest of North America, namely Haida Gwaii in Canada and the southern Alexander Archipelago in the U.S. state of Alaska. Indigenous names In the Haida language, this species is known as ''daayáats’'' in its brown summer coat and ''tlag'' in its winter coat. Taxonomy The three subspecies comprising this species were originally considered subspecies of ''Mustela erminea'', but in 2013 they were recognized as distinct from any other ermine, and a 2021 study found them to together comprise a distinct species. ''M. haidarum'' is thought have originated about 375,000 years ago (during the Pleistocene), and is thought to be a result of ancient hybrid speciation between the Beringian ermine (''M. erminea'') and American ermine (''M. richardsonii''). The islands are thought to been glacial refugia during the Last Glacial Maximum, with both species of ermine being isolated on ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Stoat
The stoat (''Mustela erminea''), also known as the Eurasian ermine, Beringian ermine and ermine, is a mustelid native to Eurasia and the northern portions of North America. Because of its wide circumpolar distribution, it is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. It is distinct from the long-tailed weasel (''Neogale frenata''), also known as the "masked ermine", or "big stoat"; the two species are visually similar, especially the black tail tip. The name ermine () is used for species in the genus '' Mustela'', especially the stoat, in its pure white winter coat, or the fur thereof. Introduced in the late 19th century into New Zealand to control rabbits, the stoat has had a devastating effect on native bird populations. It was nominated as one of the world's top 100 "worst invaders". Ermine fur was used in the 15th century by Catholic monarchs, who sometimes used it as the mozzetta cape. It has long been used on the ceremonial robes of members of the UK House of Lords. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Stoat
The stoat (''Mustela erminea''), also known as the Eurasian ermine, Beringian ermine and ermine, is a mustelid native to Eurasia and the northern portions of North America. Because of its wide circumpolar distribution, it is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. It is distinct from the long-tailed weasel (''Neogale frenata''), also known as the "masked ermine", or "big stoat"; the two species are visually similar, especially the black tail tip. The name ermine () is used for species in the genus '' Mustela'', especially the stoat, in its pure white winter coat, or the fur thereof. Introduced in the late 19th century into New Zealand to control rabbits, the stoat has had a devastating effect on native bird populations. It was nominated as one of the world's top 100 "worst invaders". Ermine fur was used in the 15th century by Catholic monarchs, who sometimes used it as the mozzetta cape. It has long been used on the ceremonial robes of members of the UK House of Lords. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mountain Weasel
The mountain weasel (''Mustela altaica''), also known as the pale weasel, Altai weasel or ''solongoi'', primarily lives in high-altitude environments, as well as rocky tundra and grassy woodlands. This weasel rests in rock crevices, tree trunks, and abandoned burrows of other animals or the animals it previously hunted. The home range size of this animal is currently unknown. Geographical distribution for this species lies in parts of Asia from Kazakhstan, Tibet, and the Himalayas to Mongolia, northeastern China, and southern Siberia. The most common area for this species, however, is Ladakh, India. The conservation status, according to the IUCN, is near threatened because it is considered to be in significant decline and requires monitoring mainly because of habitat and resource loss. Description Sexual dimorphism is slight in the Altai weasel. The male body length from head to base of the tail is about , with the tail adding about . Males can weigh . Females are slightly sm ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
European Polecat
The European polecat (''Mustela putorius''), also known as the common polecat, black polecat, or forest polecat, is a species of mustelid native to western Eurasia and North Africa. It is of a generally dark brown colour, with a pale underbelly and a dark mask across the face. Occasionally, colour mutations including albinos, leucists, isabellinists, xanthochromists, amelanists and erythrists occur. It has a shorter, more compact body than other '' Mustela'' species, a more powerfully built skull and dentition, is less agile, and is well known for having the characteristic ability to secrete a particularly foul-smelling liquid to mark its territory. It is much less territorial than other mustelids, with animals of the same sex frequently sharing home ranges. Like other mustelids, the European polecat is polygamous, with pregnancy occurring after mating, with no induced ovulation. It usually gives birth in early summer to litters consisting of five to 10 kits, which become ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Missing-toothed Pygmy Weasel
''Mustela aistoodonnivalis'', the missing-toothed pygmy weasel or Sichuan weasel, is a species of weasel that inhabits mountains in the Shaanxi and Sichuan provinces of China. Description The external features of the missing toothed weasel are very similar to least weasels, but the tail is very long, exceeding one third of the length of body and head. The summer fur of the back, tail and head is dark brown, and there are no dark markings on face or head. Under the lip, chin and throat, the fur is white but the chest and belly are a pale yellow with some irregular and rusty-red spots. The backs of the front legs are brown, and the hind limbs are similarly brown but the inner lateral parts are white hairs with brown spots. The palms and soles have shorter hair. The second lower molar (M2) is absent unlike least weasels. The species is named for the second lower molar (M2) being absent unlike in the least weasel. Body length is . The tail of is about 40% as long as the body. T ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Malayan Weasel
The Malayan weasel (''Mustela nudipes'') or Malay weasel is a weasel species native to the Malay Peninsula and the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Description The Malayan weasel is reddish-brown to grayish-white. Its head is lighter in colour than the rest of the body. The distal half of the tail is pale orange to white. The soles of the feet are naked. It has a body length of with a long tail. Distribution and habitat The Malayan weasel is native to the Malay Peninsula from southern Thailand to peninsula Malaysia, and Sumatra and Borneo. It is generally associated with tropical lowland forest, but has been recorded in habitats ranging from swamp and montane forests to plantations and high elevation montane scrub up to . A better understanding of habitat preferences would require surveys specifically aimed at the Malayan weasel because it is rarely detected by general camera trap, road mortality, and visual surveys. In ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tonkin Weasel
The Tonkin weasel or Vietnamese mountain weasel (''Mustela tonkinensis'') is a species of weasel described by Björkegren in 1941. It is known only from a singular specimen collected from an undisclosed location in Northern Vietnam. Originally believed to be a form of either the least weasel or the yellow-bellied weasel, the species was distinguished as a separate variety on the basis of skull differences by Groves in 2007. Description A standard-sized weasel, the Tonkin weasel measures between 20 and 25 centimetres in body length, with a tail length of between 10 and 11 centimetres. The upper section of the body is medium brown, while the throat, chest and stomach are white in colour. The colouring of the fur is regarded as 'vulgaris-type', which is characterised by an indented demarcation line between the areas of brown and white colour in both the neck and trunk regions. The weasel is distinguished from other species by the size of the narrow skull. Distribution and habit ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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