Mustela is a genus of carnivorous mammals, family Mustelidae, order Carnivora, comprising sixteen extant species commonly known as weasels, stoats and ferrets, though recent taxonomic revisions have moved some former members to the related genus Neogale. Weasels are found across Europe, North America, much of Asia and small areas of North Africa, and have been introduced by humans to regions such as New Zealand and parts of southern Asia. Members of the genus are small, active predators with long, slender bodies and short legs; the least weasel, Mustela nivalis, the smallest species, measures 173 to 217 millimeters in body length with a tail of 34 to 52 millimeters. Most species display red or brown upper coats with white bellies, and some populations molt to a white coat for winter. Weasels feed heavily on small mammals and consume large numbers of rodents, though they have historically been regarded as pests for occasionally taking poultry and rabbits from farms.
Facts
Taxonomic Rank Member Count Band Era First Appeared Classification
Living or Extinct Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source Mustela (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of
Source Back-striped weasel (Wikipedia)
Source Black-footed ferret (Wikipedia)
Source Egyptian weasel (Wikipedia)
Source Ferret (Wikipedia)
Source Indonesian mountain weasel (Wikipedia)
Source Japanese weasel (Wikipedia)
Source Malayan weasel (Wikipedia)
Source Mountain weasel (Wikipedia)
Source Siberian weasel (Wikipedia)
Source Steppe polecat (Wikipedia)
Source Yellow-bellied weasel (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Wikidata: Mustela
2. Wikipedia: Weasel
WikipediaIntroductionQuote, Introduction
Weasels are mammals of the genus Mustela of the family Mustelidae.
3. Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank): Taxon metrics for Mustela
Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank)Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCountQuote, Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCount
"speciesExtantCount": 14
4. Paleobiology Database: Taxon record for Mustela
Paleobiology DatabaseTaxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)Quote, Taxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)
"taxon_name": "Mustela" ... "firstapp_max_ma": 20.45 ... "early_interval": "Burdigalian"
Black-footed ferret (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Black-footed ferret, LeadQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Black-footed ferret, Lead
The black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes), also known as the American polecat or prairie dog hunter, is a mustelid species native to central North America.
Steppe polecat (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Steppe polecat, LeadQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Steppe polecat, Lead
The steppe polecat (Mustela eversmanii), also known as the white or masked polecat, is a species of mustelid native to Central and Eastern Europe and Central and East Asia.
Back-striped weasel (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Back-striped weasel, LeadQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Back-striped weasel, Lead
The back-striped weasel (Mustela strigidorsa), also called the stripe-backed weasel, is a weasel widely distributed in Southeastern Asia.
Egyptian weasel (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Egyptian weasel, LeadQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Egyptian weasel, Lead
It was formerly considered a distinct species, as Mustela subpalmata.
Ferret (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Ferret, LeadQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Ferret, Lead
The ferret (Mustela furo) is a small, domesticated species belonging to the family Mustelidae.
Indonesian mountain weasel (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Indonesian mountain weasel, LeadQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Indonesian mountain weasel, Lead
The Indonesian mountain weasel (Mustela lutreolina) is a species of weasel that lives on the islands of Java and Sumatra in Indonesia at montane elevations over 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in tropical rainforests.
Japanese weasel (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Japanese weasel, LeadQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Japanese weasel, Lead
The Japanese weasel (Mustela itatsi) is a carnivorous mammal belonging to the genus Mustela in the family Mustelidae.
Malayan weasel (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Malayan weasel, Section: Ecology and behaviorQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Malayan weasel, Section: Ecology and behavior
The majority of sightings have been of single animals, suggesting a solitary nature as seen in most weasel species of genus Mustela.
Mountain weasel (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Mountain weasel, LeadQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Mountain weasel, Lead
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.
Siberian weasel (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Siberian weasel, Section: DescriptionQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Siberian weasel, Section: Description
Their tails are more brightly coloured than the back, and are fluffier than those of other members of the genus.
Yellow-bellied weasel (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Yellow-bellied weasel, LeadQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Yellow-bellied weasel, Lead
The yellow-bellied weasel (Mustela kathiah) is a species of weasel that inhabits pine forests in central and eastern Asia.
Mustela (Wikipedia)
Child Taxon Of: Mustelidae, Lead, familyQuote, Child Taxon Of: Mustelidae, Lead, family
Weasels are mammals of the genus Mustela of the family Mustelidae.
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