(Mustelidae)

Mustelids

Куницеві

The Mustelidae are a diverse family of carnivoran mammals, including weasels, badgers, otters, polecats, martens, grisons, and wolverines. Otherwise known as mustelids, they form the largest family in the suborder Caniformia of the order Carnivora with about 66 to 70 species in nine subfamilies.

Mustelids inhabit all continents except Australia and Antarctica, and do not occur on Madagascar or oceanic islands. Members of this group can be found in diverse habitats, which include both terrestrial, aquatic and marine environments. Mustelids are mainly carnivorous, with various members of the family exploiting a great diversity of both vertebrate and invertebrate prey. Mustelids are generally proficient hunters; some weasels can take prey larger than themselves. Members of this family often hunt in burrows and crevices, and some species have evolved to become adept at climbing trees (e.g., marten) or swimming (e.g., sea otters, mink) in search of prey.

Generally, mustelids have elongate bodies with short legs and a short rostrum, as typified by weasels, ferrets, mink, and otters. Wolverines and badgers have broader bodies. An order of magnitude difference in size exists between the smallest and largest mustelid species. The smallest species is the least weasel (Mustela nivalis), weighing between 35 and 250 g. Wolverines (Gulo gulo) and sea otters (Enhydra lutris) reach 32 kg and 45 kg, respectively. All mustelids have well developed anal scent glands, which serve various functions, including territorial marking and defense.

Habitat

Mustelidae are distributed from the arctic to the tropics and occupy nearly all terrestrial habitats. Several species are semi- or nearly fully aquatic and inhabit freshwater rivers and streams, as well as coastal marine waters.

Physical Description

Adult mustelids range in size from 114 mm and 25 g (least weasel) to over 1 m and 45 kg (sea otters). These animals are generally long-bodied with short legs. Most species have slender bodies, but some, like badgers (Mustelinae, Mustelinae) and wolverines have much broader bodies. The skull is elongate with a relatively short rostrum. Adult males are generally about 25% larger than females of the same species. The ears are short, as are the legs, each of which bears five digits. The claws do not retract and, in digging species, are especially robust. Mustelids are digitigrade or plantigrade. The dental formula varies among species: 3/3, 1/1, 2-4/2-4, 1/1-2 = 28-38. The canines are long, and the carnassials are well-developed. The upper molars are often narrow in the middle, giving them an hourglass shape. Mustelids have a powerful bite; in many species, the large postglenoid process locks the lower jaw into the upper, causing the lower jaw to only move in the vertical plane, without any rotary motion.

Reproduction

Mating systems vary both within and among species. Many species are polygynous and/or promiscuous. Some species are social, while others are solitary. Social organization can vary within species as well. Mustelids require prolonged periods of copulation to induce ovulation of an unfertilzed egg. As a result, copulation may last for several hours before fertilization can be successful.

Most mustelids breed seasonally, but the length of the reproductive period varies among species. Day length often dictates the onset of the breeding season, which usually lasts 3 to 4 months. Many mustelids undergo delayed implantation, with the fertilized embryo taking up to 10 months (e.g. Meles meles) to implant in the uterus in some species. Environmental conditions such as temperature and day length determine when implantation occurs. Mustelids that live in more seasonal climates are more likely to exhibit delayed implantation. Following implantation, gestation typically lasts 30 to 65 days. Females give birth to a single litter each season, the size of which varies within and among species. For example, sables have an average litter size of 2.2, but can give birth to anywhere from 1 to 7 pups. The mountain weasel averages 8.7 pups per litter, but can have between 3 and 14 young in a single bout of reproduction. Generally, mustelids are altricial, being born small and blind. They reach sexual maturity between 8 months and two years following birth.

Young are generally born in an alricial state, requiring extenisive care and protection from their mother. Young mustelids typically are able to care for themselves when they are about two months old. Females defend territories in order to acquire enough resources to care for their young and most often nurse and protect them in a burrow or den.

Lifespan

Mustelids typically live between 5 and 20 years in the wild.

Behavior

Members of the family Mustelidae are either diurnal or nocturnal. Many of the long, narrow-bodied species are quick and agile, and move in a bounding, scampering fashion. The broader-bodied forms have a more lumbering gait. Some species are adept climbers, while others are excellent swimmers. Many species spend a great deal of time on the ground, searching for food in crevices, burrows, or under cover. Many species shelter in burrows.

Social behavior varies both within and among species, and may vary in relation to local environmental conditions such as food availability. For example, European badgers are known to form groups with several males and females that are all reproductively active within the group. Yet in other parts of their range, European badgers may live solitarily or in pairs.Many species are territorial for at least part of the year, with individuals competing over hunting areas or access to mates (e.g., Mustela erminea).

Communication and Perception

Vision and hearing are important in Mustelidae, but olfaction is particularly well developed. In addition to using scent cues to find food, scent-marking is the main form of communication in this family. Secretions from well-developed scent glands function in territorial interactions, indicate reproductive state, and are used in other social contexts. The degree and function of scent marking varies among species, and according to social and environmental conditions within species.

Food Habits

Mustelids are primarily carnivorous, but some species may at times eat plant material. A wide range of animal taxa are preyed upon by various members of this family; many mustelids are opportunistic feeders rather than specialists. However, many mustelids are especially adept at capturing small, mammalian prey. Weasels, for example, are capable of chasing and capturing rodents in their burrows. Otters are well-adapted to chasing and capturing aquatic prey, including fish, crustaceans, and other aquatic invertebrates. Mustelids hunt in a variety of terrestrial, aquatic, and arboreal habitats. Some species regularly prey on animals larger than themselves. Some species have been known to store food (e.g., Mustela, Gulo).

Predation

Mustelids are generally small carnivores, and are therefore subject to predation by larger carnivores such as canids with which they co-occur. They may also fall prey to large snakes (Serpentes), raptors (Falconiformes), and owls (Strigiformes). Some mustelids secrete noxious chemicals to discourage predators. In some of these species, aposematic color patterns can help ward off predators.

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eira barbara

(Eira barbara)

Tayra

Тайра

Head-body length: 56–71 cm.
Tail length: 37–46 cm.
Weight: 2.7–7 kg.

It is found in Central and South America, with a range extending from southern Mexico to Paraguay and northern Argentina. Its primary habitat is tropical and subtropical rainforests.

gulo gulo

(Gulo gulo)

Wolverine

Росомаха

Head-body length: 65–109 cm.
Tail length: 17–26 cm.
Weight: 8–18 kg.

It is primarily found in isolated Arctic, boreal, and alpine regions of northern Canada, Alaska, Siberia, and Fennoscandia. It is also native to European Russia, the Baltic countries, the Russian Far East, northeastern China, and Mongolia.

martes americana

(Martes americana)

American Marten

Куниця американська

Head-body length: 32–45 cm.
Tail length: 18–23 cm.
Weight: 0.5–1.4 kg.

It is found across much of North America, from Alaska through the forested regions of Canada to the north-eastern United States, extending southward into northern California, the Sierra Nevada, and the Rocky Mountains. It primarily inhabits old, tall coniferous and mixed forests.

martes caurina

(Martes caurina)

Pacific Marten

Куниця тихоокеанська

Head-body length: 32–45 cm.
Tail length: 18–23 cm.
Weight: 0.5–1.4k kg.

Its range extends from the Alexander and Haida Gwaii archipelagos south along the Pacific Northwest coast to Humboldt County, California, and east to the southern Rocky Mountains, reaching as far south as New Mexico.

martes martes

(Martes martes)

European Pine Marten

Куниця лісова

Head-body length: 45–58 cm.
Tail length: 16–28 cm.
Weight: 0.8–1.8 kg.

It is widespread across most of Europe, Asia Minor, the Caucasus, and parts of Iran, Iraq, and Syria. It prefers forest habitats, including deciduous, mixed, and coniferous forests.

martes foina

(Martes foina)

Stone Marten

Куниця кам'яна

Head-body length: 40–55 cm.
Tail length: 22–30 cm.
Weight: 1.2–2.3 kg.

It ranges from the Iberian Peninsula across Europe and Central Asia to north-western China, and is also found in parts of South Asia, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, and Bhutan.

martes flavigula

(Martes flavigula)

Yellow-throated Marten

Харза

Head-body length: 45–65 cm.
Tail length: 37–45 cm.
Weight: 1.3–3 kg.

It is found in Afghanistan and Pakistan, in the Himalayas of India, Nepal and Bhutan, continental southern China and Taiwan, the Korean Peninsula and eastern Russia, extending south to Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, and the Malay Peninsula.

martes gwatkinsii

(Martes gwatkinsii)

Nilgiri Marten

Куниця нільгирійська

Head-body length: 55–65 cm.
Tail length: 40–45 cm.
Weight: 1–3 kg.

It inhabits the shola grasslands and South Western Ghats montane rain forests, and occasionally the adjacent moist deciduous forests and commercial plantations, in the South Indian states of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

martes zibellina

(Martes zibellina)

Sable

Соболь

Head-body length: 35–56 cm.
Tail length: 9–12 cm.
Weight: 0.8–1.8 kg.

It primarily inhabits forested regions of Russia, from the Ural Mountains across Siberia to northern Mongolia. Its habitat also borders eastern Kazakhstan, China, North Korea and Hokkaido, Japan.

martes melampus

(Martes melampus)

Japanese marten

Куна японська

Head-body length: 47–54 cm.
Tail length: 17–22 cm.
Weight: 1–1.5 kg.

It is native to the forested regions of Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku, and Tsushima, Japan.

pekania pennanti

(Pekania pennanti)

Fisher

Ілька

Head-body length: 45–65 cm.
Tail length: 30–50 cm.
Weight: 2–5.5 kg.

It inhabits the forests of North America, ranging from the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California to the Appalachian Mountains in West Virginia, typically preferring coniferous forests with an abundance of hollow trees.

taxidea taxus

(Taxidea taxus)

American badger

Американський борсук

Head-body length: 60–75 cm.
Tail length: 10–15 cm.
Weight: 6.3–8.7 kg.

It is found in the western, central, and north-eastern United States, northern Mexico, and south-central Canada to certain areas of south-western British Columbia. It habitat is typified by open grasslands.

mellivora capensis

(Mellivora capensis)

Honey badger

Медоїд

Head-body length: 60–77 cm.
Tail length: 20–30 cm.
Weight: 7–13 kg.

It ranges across most of sub-Saharan Africa and outside Africa through Arabia, Iran, and Western Asia to Turkmenistan and the Indian Peninsula. It is predominantly found in deserts, mountainous regions and forests, at elevations of up to 4,000 m.

arctonyx albogularis

(Arctonyx albogularis)

Northern Hog Badger

Теледу північний

Head-body length: 55–70 cm.
Tail length: 11–22 cm.

It ranges from northeast India and Bangladesh northeastward to most of eastern China. An isolated record is also known from eastern Mongolia.

arctonyx collaris

(Arctonyx collaris)

Greater Hog Badger

Теледу великий

Head-body length: 65–104 cm.
Tail length: 19–29 cm.
Weight: 7–14 kg.

It is found in Thailand and much of mainland Southeast Asia, inhabiting tropical evergreen forests and grasslands.

arctonyx hoevenii

(Arctonyx hoevenii)

Sumatran Hog Badger

Теледу суматранський

Head-body length: 51–71 cm.
Tail length: 8–18 cm.

It is endemic to the high-altitude regions of Sumatra, particularly the Barisan Range. It typically inhabits montane and cloud forests, as well as tropical subalpine meadows, at elevations of 200–2,600 m.

melogale everetti

(Melogale everetti)

Bornean Ferret Badger

Харсун борнейський

Head-body length: 33–44 cm.
Tail length: 15–23 cm.
Weight: 1–3 kg.

It is endemic to the island of Borneo. It is predominantly evergreen and montane forests, at elevations of 500–3,000 m.

melogale moschata

(Melogale moschata)

Chinese Ferret-badger

Харсун китайський

Head-body length: 33–43 cm.
Tail length: 15–23 cm.
Weight: 0.8–1.6 kg.

It lives in grassland, open forests, and tropical rainforests from northeast India to southern China, including Hainan Island, and south to Hong Kong and northern Indochina.

melogale orientalis

(Melogale orientalis)

Javan Ferret-badger

Харсун яванський

Head-body length: 35–40 cm.
Tail length: 14.5–17 cm.
Weight: 1–2 kg.

It is endemic to the islands of Java and Bali in Indonesia. It inhabits primary and secondary forests at elevations of 200–2,600 m.

melogale personata

(Melogale personata)

Burmese Ferret-badger

Харсун бірманський

Head-body length: 35–40 cm.
Tail length: 15–21 cm.
Weight: 1.5–3 kg.

It is native to Southeast Asia, including north-eastern India, Bangladesh, southern Myanmar, Thailand, Nepal, Cambodia, southern China, Laos, and Vietnam.

melogale subaurantiaca

(Melogale subaurantiaca)

Formosan Ferret-badger

Харсун тайванський

It is endemic to the island of Taiwan and inhabits tropical and subtropical forests, grasslands, and cultivated areas.

The genus (Melogale) also includes: Vietnam Ferret-badger (Melogale cucphuongensis).

meles meles

(Meles meles)

European Badger

Борсук європейський

Head-body length: 60–90 cm.
Tail length: 12–24 cm.
Weight: 7–17 kg.

It is found throughout Europe, extending east to the Volga River, as well as in Asia Minor, the Caucasus, northern Iran and Afghanistan, and southern Central Asia. It inhabits deciduous and mixed woodlands, clearings, spinneys, pastureland, and scrub, at elevations of up to 2,000 m.

meles anakuma

(Meles anakuma)

Japanese Badger

Борсук японський

Head-body length: 60–90 cm.
Tail length: 14–20 cm.
Weight: 3.8–14 kg.

It is endemic to Japan and is found on Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku, and Shōdoshima. It inhabits a variety of woodland and forest habitats.

meles canescens

(Meles canescens)

Caucasian Badger

Борсук кавказький

Head-body length: approx. 84 cm.

It ranges from Anatolia north to the Caucasus Mountains, south to the Levant and west-central Iran, and east to the Tian Shan mountains. It also occurs on the Mediterranean islands of Crete and Rhodes.

meles leucurus

(Meles leucurus)

Asian badger

Борсук азійський

Head-body length: 50–70 cm.
Tail length: 13–20 cm.
Weight: 3.5–9 kg.

It is native to Mongolia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Korean Peninsula, and Russia (east of the Volga River).

galictis cuja

(Galictis cuja)

Lesser Grison

Гризон малий

Head-body length: 27–52 cm.
Tail length: 14–19 cm.
Weight: 1.2–2.4 kg.

It is found throughout most of southern South America. It inhabits a wide range of habitats, generally near water, including grasslands, forests, scrub, and mountain meadows, at elevations of up to 4,200 m.

galictis vittata

(Galictis vittata)

Greater Grison

Гризон великий

Head-body length: 45–60 cm.
Tail length: approx. 16 cm.
Weight: 1.5–3.8 kg.

It is native to North and South America, ranging from southern Mexico in the north to central Brazil, Peru, and Bolivia in the south. It inhabits a wide range of forest and cerrado habitats and is usually seen near rivers and streams, at elevations of up to 2,000 m.

lyncodon patagonicus

(Lyncodon patagonicus)

Patagonian Weasel

Ласка патагонська

Head-body length: 30–35 cm.
Tail length: 6–9 cm.
Weight: 200–250 g.

Its geographic range includes the Pampas of western Argentina and southern Chile.

ictonyx libycus

(Ictonyx libycus)

Saharan Striped Polecat

Зорила сахарська

Head-body length: 22–30 cm.
Tail length: 12–19 cm.
Weight: 500–750 g.

It is found in northern Africa, along the northern and southern edges of the Sahara Desert. Arid, rocky terrain and sandy semi-deserts are its preferred habitats, although it is rarely found in woodlands.

ictonyx striatus

(Ictonyx striatus)

Striped Polecat

Зорила звичайна

Head-body length: 30–38 cm.
Tail length: 22–30 cm.
Weight: 0.7–1.4 kg.

It inhabits most of Sub-Saharan Africa, ranging from Mauritania across to south-eastern Egypt in the north, and stretching down south to South Africa. It inhabits grasslands, forests, rocky areas, and deserts.

poecilogale albinucha

(Poecilogale albinucha)

African Striped Weasel

Ласка смугаста

Head-body length: 24–35 cm.
Tail length: 13.8–21.5 cm.
Weight: 210–380 g.

It is found across much of Africa south of the equator, ranging from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Kenya in the north to southern South Africa. It inhabits semideserts, rainforests, fynbos, and pine plantations.

vormela peregusna

(Vormela peregusna)

Marbled Polecat

Перегузня звичайна

Head-body length: 29–35 cm.
Tail length: 15.5–17.8 cm.
Weight: 295–715 g.

It is distributed from Southeast Europe to the Caucasus, the Levant and Central Asia into north-western Pakistan, southern Mongolia and northern China. It inhabits open desert, semidesert, and semiarid rocky areas in upland valleys and low hill ranges, steppe country, and arid subtropical scrub forest.

mustela eversmanii

(Mustela eversmanii)

Steppe Polecat

Тхір степовий

Head-body length: 29–56 cm.
Tail length: 7–18.3 cm.
Weight: 1.3–2 kg.

It is found from Central and Eastern Europe, extending eastward across the forest-steppe, steppe, and semi-deserts of southern Russia, northern Georgia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan to Mongolia and northern and western China.

mustela putorius

(Mustela putorius)

European Polecat

Тхір лісовий

Head-body length: 29–46 cm.
Tail length: 8.4–16 cm.
Weight: 0.6–1.9 kg.

It is native to most of Europe west of the Ural Mountains (except Ireland, northern Scandinavia, and parts of the Balkans), and also occurs in northern Morocco. It inhabits along bodies of fresh water, in wetlands, at the edges of forests, and in grasslands with patches of scrub trees.

mustela nigripes

(Mustela nigripes)

Black-footed Ferret

Тхір чорноногий

Head-body length: 40–50 cm.
Tail length: 11–15 cm.
Weight: 0.6–1.4 kg.

It is found in central North America, ranging from southern Alberta and southern Saskatchewan south to Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. It inhabits shortgrass and mixed-grass prairies, desert grasslands, shrub and sagebrush steppes, mountain grasslands, and semi-arid grasslands.

mustela altaica

(Mustela altaica)

Mountain Weasel

Солонгой

Head-body length: 22–28 cm.
Tail length: 10–15 cm.
Weight: 110–340 g.

It is found in parts of Asia, ranging from Kazakhstan, Tibet, and the Himalayas to Mongolia, north-eastern China, and southern Siberia, extending south to Ladakh, India. It primarily lives in high-altitude environments, as well as rocky tundra and grassy woodlands, at elevations of 1,500–4,000 m.

mustela erminea

(Mustela erminea)

Stoat

Горностай

Head-body length: 19–34 cm.
Tail length: 4.2–12 cm.
Weight: 134–365 g.

It is native to much of Eurasia and the northern regions of North America. It inhabits river valleys; the banks of streams, lakes, ponds, and swamps; floodplains; forests and forest edges; copses and shrub thickets; and is occasionally found in fields.

mustela haidarum

(Mustela haidarum)

Haida Ermine

Горностай гайдинський

Head-body length: approx. 21 cm.
Tail length: approx. 10 cm.

It is found on a few islands off the coast of British Columbia, including Graham and Moresby islands in the Haida Gwaii archipelago, and in south-eastern Alaska, on Prince of Wales Island and possibly Suemez Island. It inhabits temperate rainforest habitats.

mustela richardsonii

(Mustela richardsonii)

American Ermine

Горностай американський

Head-body length: 17–24 cm.
Tail length: 5.9–9.8 cm.
Weight: 39–154 g.

It is found throughout most of North America, except for most of Alaska, eastern Yukon, much of Arctic Canada and Greenland, as well as most of the Southeastern United States and the Great Plains.

mustela itatsi

(Mustela itatsi)

Japanese Weasel

Ласиця японська

Head-body length: 25–39 cm.
Tail length: 13.3–21 cm.
Weight: 360–820 g.

It is native to Japan where it occurs on the islands of Honshū, Kyūshū and Shikoku. It inhabits grasslands, shrublands, forests and plantations.

mustela nivalis

(Mustela nivalis)

Least Weasel

Ласиця мала

Head-body length: 11–26 cm.
Tail length: 7–12.9 cm.
Weight: 36–250 g.

It has a circumboreal, Holarctic distribution, encompassing much of Europe, North Africa, Asia, and parts of northern North America. It has also been introduced to New Zealand, Malta, Crete, the Azores, and São Tomé.

mustela kathiah

(Mustela kathiah)

Yellow-bellied Weasel

Ласиця жовтошия

Head-body length: 25–27 cm.
Tail length: 12–15 cm.
Weight: 150–260 g.

It occurs in Bhutan, Myanmar, China, India, Laos, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, and Vietnam. It inhabits forested areas at elevations of 1,000–2,000 m.

mustela lutreola

(Mustela lutreola)

European Mink

Норка європейська

Head-body length: 35–43 cm.
Tail length: 15–19 cm.
Weight: 550–800 g.

The current range includes an isolated population in northern Spain and western France, which is widely separated from the main range in Eastern Europe.

mustela lutreolina

(Mustela lutreolina)

Indonesian Mountain Weasel

Норка яванська

Head-body length: 28–30 cm.
Tail length: 13–15 cm.
Weight: 295–340 g.

It lives on the islands of Java and Sumatra in Indonesia, inhabiting tropical rainforests at montane elevations above 1,000 m.

mustela nudipes

(Mustela nudipes)

Malayan Weasel

Норка малайська

Head-body length: 30–36 cm.
Tail length: 24–26 cm.
Weight: approx. 1 kg.

It is native to the Malay Peninsula, from southern Thailand to Peninsular Malaysia, as well as Sumatra and Borneo. It inhabits lowland forests, but has also been recorded in a variety of habitats, ranging from swamps and montane forests to plantations and high-elevation montane scrub up to 1,700 m.

mustela sibirica

(Mustela sibirica)

Siberian Weasel

Колонок

Head-body length: 25–39 cm.
Tail length: 13–21 cm.
Weight: 360–820 g.

It ranges from the Himalayas in Pakistan, India, Nepal, and Bhutan to northern Myanmar, northern Thailand, Laos, Taiwan, China, Korea, and Japan. In Russia, it occurs from the western Urals across Siberia to the Russian Far East.

mustela strigidorsa

(Mustela strigidorsa)

Back-striped Weasel

Норка білосмуга

Head-body length: 30–36 cm.
Tail length: 18–20 cm.
Weight: approx. 700 g.

It is found in north-eastern India, northern and central Myanmar, southern China, northern Thailand, and northern and central Laos and Vietnam. It lives mainly in evergreen forests on hills and mountains, at elevations of up to 2,500 m.

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