5 Species Of Weasels
It is a carnivorous mammal that belongs to the mustelidae family (shared with minks, ferrets and stoats). Today’s weasel species live in America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa. We inform you about some of them in this article.
How many species of weasels are there?
At present we can find 18 species of weasels, which are quite similar in terms of size, fur and habits. Various legends revolve around these seemingly cute animals ; it is said, for example, that they ‘steal’ milk from sows or rabbits and that they are vermin. Within the family we can find:
1. Common weasel
Also known as the lesser weasel –the photo that opens this article– inhabits North America, Eurasia and North Africa (always above the equator), both in rural and urban ecosystems. It hides among the hedges, firewood, trees, crops and meadows.
It is a very effective hunter, which can kill prey up to 10 times its weight. Its body is long and flexible, both its snout and legs are short and the eyes are prominent as well as the ears. It has reddish-brown fur except for the belly and neck, which are white.
2. Ermine weasel
It has a habitat similar to the common weasel, although a little more widespread in North America and Asia. It has also been introduced to New Zealand, where it is considered a harmful exotic species.
The ermine weasel has an elongated body with fur that changes color according to the time of year : brown on the back and white on the belly during the summer, and completely white – except for the black eyes and nose – in winter.
3. Long-tailed weasel
Also known as the Andean weasel, it is one of the species that can be found only in America, from southern Canada to northern Bolivia. Prefers open habitats near bodies of water: forests, fields, meadows, and marshes. It usually lives in abandoned caves or rock crevices and log hollows.
Regarding its physical appearance, its long tail – hence the name – and very hairy, and of the same extension as its body, is striking. All the fur is light brown, but in the areas where it snows it changes to pure white.
4. European weasel
The European mink – brown in color and white snout – is a critically endangered species that lives in few populations between Spain and the Ural Mountains. It prefers aquatic environments, swamps, with slow rivers and great vegetation cover.
It is one of the species of weasels whose diet is more varied, since it feeds on small mammals, fish, reptiles, crustaceans, amphibians and birds. Regarding their reproduction, they go into heat in March or April, and the females give birth between two and six young in May or June, who remain in the burrow for a month.
5. Siberian weasel
Finally, we have the so-called ‘yellow weasel’ due to its yellowish-white coat color. In addition, it is famous because it attacks poultry at night and because it has a very strong smell, similar to that of the skunk. The males measure about 40 centimeters and their tail another 20; females do not reach 30 and 15 centimeters, respectively.
It is one of the weasel species that is only distributed in Asia, specifically in Siberia, the Gobi desert, the islands of Japan – where it has been introduced – and southern China. Although it is hunted for its hair – to make brushes – it is not threatened.
