Weasel
Mustela is a genus in the marten family (Mustelidae) and includes the species commonly referred to as weasels, polecats, and minks. However, the internal systematics in this genus are somewhat more complicated, so that common usage does not match the actual relationships. The genus includes 17 species in 4 subgenera:
- Subgenus South American weasels (Grammogale)
- Tropical weasel (Mustela africana)
- Colombian weasel (Mustela felipei)
- Subgenus Mustela
- Ermine (Mustela erminea)
- Weasel (Mustela nivalis)
- Long-tailed weasel (Mustela frenata)
- Altai weasel (Mustela altaica)
- Yellow-bellied weasel (Mustela kathiah)
- Subgenus Lutreola
- European mink (Mustela lutreola)
- Fire weasel (Mustela sibirica)
- Egyptian weasel (Mustela subpalmata)
- Japan weasel (Mustela itatsi)
- Backstriped weasel (Mustela strigidorsa)
- Bare-footed weasel (Mustela nudipes)
- Indonesian mountain weasel (Mustela lutreolina)
- Subgenus Polecats (Putorius)
- European polecat (Mustela putorius)
- Steppe tilapia (Mustela eversmanii)
- Black-footed tilapia (Mustela nigripes)
The American mink and the extinct lake mink are also often classified in the genus Mustela. According to recent findings, however, they are not closely related to them and are therefore listed in their own genus, Neovison, by Wilson & Reeder (2005), for example.
Questions and Answers
Q: What is a weasel?
A: Weasels are small, active predators, part of the Mustela genus, which includes polecats, stoats, ferrets, and minks.
Q: What is the body shape of a weasel adapted for?
A: The body shape of a weasel is adapted to going down burrows after prey such as rabbits.
Q: How many species of weasels are there?
A: There are 17 species of weasels in the world, except for Antarctica and Australasia.
Q: What is the size of a weasel?
A: Weasels vary in length from 173 to 217 mm (6.8 to 8.5 in).
Q: What is the color of a weasel's coat?
A: Weasels have red or brown upper coats and white underneath.
Q: How long is a weasel's tail?
A: A weasel's tail can be from 34 to 52 mm (1.3 to 2.0 in) long.
Q: What is the biological relationship between weasels and cats?
A: Biologically, despite looking a bit like cats, weasels are actually more related to dogs.
