Mustela – Weasels
In Greek culture, Mustela is a sign of bad luck as it was thought to be an unhappy bride
Members of this genus are small but active predators with slender, long bodies and short legs. The long and slender body allows them to follow their prey into tight spaces like burrows.
These animals mainly feed on small mammals, so they are sometimes considered vermin because some species consume poultry and rabbits from commercial farms. Besides that, they also eat a large number of rodents. The range of these animals spans North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and small areas in North Africa.
Species in this genus
Ferret
Playful, curious creatures with a long history of domestication
Least weasel
The smallest carnivorous predator in the world and so have limited fat stores and need to eat more than 50% of the body weight
Long-tailed weasel
Uses a hunting technique known as the Weasel War Dance that involves a series of frenetic turns, manic twists, and jumps to confuse the prey
Steppe polecat
Widely distributed in Europe and Asia and tolerant to habitat modification
Stoat
A small, fierce predator known for its agility, hunting skills, and color-changing fur
Domestic ferret
Domesticated from the European polecat, once bred for hunting, now as a pet
