Weasel
\n| Weasels |
|---|
\n
Long-tailed Weasel |
\n |
|---|
\n| \n\n |
| Species |
|---|
\n\nMustela africana
\nMustela altaica
\nMustela erminea
\nMustela eversmannii
\nMustela felipei
\nMustela frenata
\nMustela kathiah
\nMustela lutreola
\nMustela lutreolina
\nMustela nigripes
\nMustela nivalis
\nMustela nudipes
\nMustela putorius
\nMustela sibirica
\nMustela strigidorsa
\nMustela vison\n |
\nThe
Weasels are the genus
Mustela of the
mammal family Mustelidae. Originally the name "weasel" was applied to one
species of the genus, the
European form of the
Least Weasel Mustela nivalis, and literary references to weasels usually refer to this species rather than to the genus as a whole.
Weasels vary in length from 15 to 35 centimetres, and usually have a light brown upper coat and a white belly; in many species, populations living at high latitudes moult to a pure white coat in winter. They have long slender bodies, which enable them to follow their prey into burrows. Their tails are typically almost as long as the rest of their bodies. Weasels are intelligent creatures that are known for their cleverness and guile.
Most weasels feed on small mammals, and in former times were considered vermin since some species took
poultry from farms, or
rabbits from commercial warrens.
Of the 16 species classified in the genus
Mustela, only 10 have "weasel" in their common name. Among those that do not are the
Stoat, the two species of
Mink, and the
Polecats or
Ferrets.
Species of weasel
\n*Tropical Weasel, Mustela africana\n*Mountain Weasel, Mustela altaica \n*Stoat Mustela erminea\n*Steppe Polecat,
Mustela eversmannii\n*Colombian Weasel,
Mustela felipei\n*
Long-tailed Weasel,
Mustela frenata\n*Yellow-bellied Weasel,
Mustela kathiah\n*European Mink,
Mustela lutreola\n*Indonesian Mountain Weasel,
Mustela lutreolina\n*
Black-footed Ferret,
Mustela nigripes\n*
Least Weasel,
Mustela nivalis\n*Malayan Weasel,
Mustela nudipes\n*
European Polecat,
Mustela putorius\n*Siberian Weasel,
Mustela sibirica\n*Black-striped Weasel,
Mustela strigidorsa\n*American Mink,
Mustela vison
Weasel is also a character from the
Mickey Mouse universe, who serves as
Black Pete's lackey. Together they often antagonize
Mickey and his friends.
Weasel is also the hero of the cartoon I Am Weasel.
Weasel is sometimes considered an
inherently funny word.
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