The weasel family is one of the largest groups of meat-eating mammals on Earth. Its members include not just weasels, but also mink, skunks, otters, badgers, and many lesser-known animals. Together these animals are called mustelids. Where weasels liveMustelids are found on every continent except Australia and Antarctica. They occupy very diverse habitats ranging from tropical forests in Asia and South America to the Arctic tundra. The least weasel is found from Europe to China and Japan, and from Siberia to Alaska, Canada, and the northern United States. The long-tailed weasel is widespread in the Western Hemisphere, ranging from southern Canada to South America. Badgers, skunks, and polecats are terrestrial, that is, they live mainly on land. Sables are arboreal, meaning they spend most of their time in trees. Otters and minks are semi-aquatic, living both in water and on land. The only living member of the weasel family that spends all its time in seawaters is the sea otter. Physical featuresMustelids have a long and slender body. They have a small, flat head, a long, flexible neck, and small, round ears. They generally have short limbs, and they have five toes on each foot with sharp, curved claws. They are quiet, agile, and graceful in their movements. They use scent to track their prey and have well-developed hearing. Mustelids vary greatly in size. The smallest is the least weasel, which is also the smallest living carnivore. It weighs 1 to 2 1/2 ounces (30 to 70 grams). The largest is the sea otter. It may weigh almost 90 pounds (41 kilograms). Males are usually larger than the females. Mustelids are mainly brown in color. One striking exception is the ermine. In summer it is dark brown on top and white below, but in winter it develops long, thick white fur all over, except for the black-tipped tail. The brown-colored common and least weasels in the northern regions also turn white during winter. Badgers have grayish coats and a black-and-white striped pattern on their faces. Skunks have black-and-white stripes or spots. Most mustelids have glands located near their anus. These are effective defense weapons in some species, like skunks, zorille, marbled polecat, and to some extent the stink badger and ratel. These animals, when threatened, eject a spray of yellow foul-smelling liquid as far as 12 feet (3.7 meters). BehaviorMustelid behavior ranges from solitary to social. Martens, for instance, generally live in single numbers while otters are playful even as adults. Some like ratels, wolverines, and weasels are strong and courageous fighters. Wolverines are noted for their cunning. Otters, ratels, and skunks can be trained easily at a young age and make good pets. Badgers, polecats, skunks, ratels, wolverines, and zorilles are nocturnal creatures, meaning that they are active during the night. Others like grisons are diurnal, or active during the day. Tayras are active both day and night. Although mustelids are mainly meat-eating animals, some species are also vegetarian, or plant-eating. A few species have highly specialized hunting and feeding habits. The honey badger works with a bird called the honey guide to find its favorite food, honey. The honey guide first finds the beehive and utters a call. The honey badger follows it. When they reach the hive, the badger tears it apart, and both animals feed on the hive's contents. Life cycleMustelids give birth to their young instead of laying eggs. Depending on the species, the mother may give birth once or twice a year. The size of the litter varies, ranging from two to 13 babies. The mother nurses the young for about two months. Importance to humansMany members of the weasel family are highly valued for their skins and furs. These include minks, ermine, sable, martens, fishers, otters, and even skunks. The wolverine skin is highly valued by the Arctic dwellers. They use it to line their hooded jackets because moisture and snow does not freeze on it. The hair of the mustelid is also used to make different kinds of brushes. Hair from the tails of many species is used for making paintbrushes. Many species help keep rodent and pest insect populations under control. Some species, such as the Oriental small-clawed otter, grison, and ferret, have even been trained by humans to carry out different tasks like catching fish and flushing out rabbits and rats. Ecological issuesThe hunting and killing of mustelids for their fur has drastically reduced the populations of many species. As a result, many government conservation agencies have introduced strict international regulations. Mink and sable farms have been set up to supply furs to the manufacturers. In fact, almost all mink and sable furs today come from farm-raised animals. A few mustelids still face extinction. The black-footed ferret is now an endangered species because in many areas its main food source, prairie dogs, has been killed. The wolverine has also been hunted in large numbers because of its reputation for killing livestock, attacking hunters, and eating animals captured by fur trappers. |