Mustelinae
Encyclopedia
Mustelinae is a polyphyletic subfamily of family
Mustelidae
and includes wolverine
s, weasel
s, ferret
s, marten
s, mink
s, and similar carnivorous mammal
s of Order
Carnivora
.
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Mustelidae
Mustelidae
Mustelidae , commonly referred to as the weasel family, are a family of carnivorous mammals. Mustelids are diverse and the largest family in the order Carnivora, at least partly because in the past it has been a catch-all category for many early or poorly differentiated taxa...
and includes wolverine
Wolverine
The wolverine, pronounced , Gulo gulo , also referred to as glutton, carcajou, skunk bear, or quickhatch, is the largest land-dwelling species of the family Mustelidae . It is a stocky and muscular carnivore, more closely resembling a small bear than other mustelids...
s, weasel
Weasel
Weasels are mammals forming the genus Mustela of the Mustelidae family. They are small, active predators, long and slender with short legs....
s, ferret
Ferret
The ferret is a domesticated mammal of the type Mustela putorius furo. Ferrets are sexually dimorphic predators with males being substantially larger than females. They typically have brown, black, white, or mixed fur...
s, marten
Marten
The martens constitute the genus Martes within the subfamily Mustelinae, in family Mustelidae.-Description:Martens are slender, agile animals, adapted to living in taigas, and are found in coniferous and northern deciduous forests across the northern hemisphere. They have bushy tails, and large...
s, mink
Mink
There are two living species referred to as "mink": the European Mink and the American Mink. The extinct Sea Mink is related to the American Mink, but was much larger. All three species are dark-colored, semi-aquatic, carnivorous mammals of the family Mustelidae, which also includes the weasels and...
s, and similar carnivorous mammal
Mammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
s of Order
Order (biology)
In scientific classification used in biology, the order is# a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, genus, and species, with order fitting in between class and family...
Carnivora
Carnivora
The diverse order Carnivora |Latin]] carō "flesh", + vorāre "to devour") includes over 260 species of placental mammals. Its members are formally referred to as carnivorans, while the word "carnivore" can refer to any meat-eating animal...
.
Extant species of Mustelinae
Subfamily Mustelinae- Genus Arctonyx
- Hog badgerHog BadgerThe hog badger is a terrestrial species of the mustelid family. It has medium-length brown hair, stocky body, white throat, two black stripes on an elongated white face and a pink pig-like snout. The head-and-body length is , the tail measures and the body weight is...
, Arctonyx collaris
- Hog badger
- Genus EiraTayraThe tayra , also known as the Tolomuco or Perico ligero in Central America, and San Hol or viejo de monte in the Yucatan Peninsula is an omnivorous animal from the weasel family Mustelidae. It is the only species in the genus Eira...
- TayraTayraThe tayra , also known as the Tolomuco or Perico ligero in Central America, and San Hol or viejo de monte in the Yucatan Peninsula is an omnivorous animal from the weasel family Mustelidae. It is the only species in the genus Eira...
, Eira barbara
- Tayra
- Genus GalictisGalictisThe grison, also known as the South American glutton, is a neotropical mustelid of South America. Comprising the genus Galictis, it is divided into two species: the greater grison , which is found widely in South America, through Central America to southern Mexico; and the lesser grison , which is...
(GrisónGalictisThe grison, also known as the South American glutton, is a neotropical mustelid of South America. Comprising the genus Galictis, it is divided into two species: the greater grison , which is found widely in South America, through Central America to southern Mexico; and the lesser grison , which is...
)- Greater grisonGreater GrisonThe greater grison, Galictis vittata, is an animal belonging to the ferret family Mustelidae from Central and South America, from southern Mexico to Brazil and Bolivia, living in savannas and rainforests, usually seen near rivers and streams....
, Galictis vittata - Lesser grisonLesser GrisonThe lesser grison , Galictis cuja, is a mammal species of the ferret family Mustelidae from South America. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay....
, Galictis cuja
- Greater grison
- Genus Gulo
- Wolverine, Gulo gulo
- Genus IctonyxIctonyxIctonyx is a genus in the Mustelidae family . It contains two species:* Saharan Striped Polecat * Striped Polecat...
- Striped polecatStriped PolecatThe Striped Polecat is a member of the Mustelidae family which somewhat resembles a skunk. It is found in savannahs and open country in sub-saharan Africa excluding the Congo basin and west Africa.Like other polecats, this carnivore is nocturnal...
, Ictonyx striatus - Saharan striped polecatSaharan Striped PolecatThe Saharan striped polecat or Saharan striped weasel is a species of mammal in the Mustelidae family. It is found in Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, Tunisia....
, Ictonyx libycus
- Striped polecat
- Genus Lyncodon
- Patagonian weaselPatagonian WeaselThe Patagonian Weasel is a small mustelid that is the only member of the genus Lyncodon. Its geographic range is the Pampas of western Argentina and sections of Chile...
, Lyncodon patagonicus
- Patagonian weasel
- Genus MartesMartenThe martens constitute the genus Martes within the subfamily Mustelinae, in family Mustelidae.-Description:Martens are slender, agile animals, adapted to living in taigas, and are found in coniferous and northern deciduous forests across the northern hemisphere. They have bushy tails, and large...
(SableSableThe sable is a species of marten which inhabits forest environments, primarily in Russia from the Ural Mountains throughout Siberia, in northern Mongolia and China and on Hokkaidō in Japan. Its range in the wild originally extended through European Russia to Poland and Scandinavia...
, FishersFisher (animal)The fisher is a medium-size mammal native to North America. It is a member of the mustelid family, commonly referred to as the weasel family. The fisher is closely related to but larger than the American Marten...
and MartenMartenThe martens constitute the genus Martes within the subfamily Mustelinae, in family Mustelidae.-Description:Martens are slender, agile animals, adapted to living in taigas, and are found in coniferous and northern deciduous forests across the northern hemisphere. They have bushy tails, and large...
s)- American martenAmerican MartenThe American marten is a North American member of the family Mustelidae, sometimes referred to as the pine marten. The name "pine marten" is derived from the common but distinct Eurasian species of Martes...
, Martes americana - Yellow-throated marten, Martes flavigula
- Beech martenBeech MartenThe beech marten , also known as the stone marten or white breasted marten, is a species of marten native to much of Europe and Central Asia, though it has established a feral population in North America. It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN on account of its wide distribution, its large...
, Martes foina - Nilgiri marten, Martes gwatkinsii
- Pine martenPine MartenThe European Pine Marten , known most commonly as the pine marten in Anglophone Europe, and less commonly also known as Pineten, baum marten, or sweet marten, is an animal native to Northern Europe belonging to the mustelid family, which also includes mink, otter, badger, wolverine and weasel. It...
, Martes martes - Japanese marten, Martes melampus
- FisherFisher (animal)The fisher is a medium-size mammal native to North America. It is a member of the mustelid family, commonly referred to as the weasel family. The fisher is closely related to but larger than the American Marten...
, Martes pennanti - SableSableThe sable is a species of marten which inhabits forest environments, primarily in Russia from the Ural Mountains throughout Siberia, in northern Mongolia and China and on Hokkaidō in Japan. Its range in the wild originally extended through European Russia to Poland and Scandinavia...
, Martes zibellina
- American marten
- Genus MelesMeles (genus)Meles is a genus of badgers, containing three living species, the Japanese Badger , Asian Badger , and European Badger ....
- Japanese badgerJapanese badgerThe Japanese badger is a species of carnivoran of the family Mustelidae, the weasels and their kin. It is endemic to Japan, where it is found on Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku, and Shodoshima...
, Meles anakuma - Asian badgerAsian BadgerThe Asian badger , also known as the sand badger is a species of badger native to China, Kazakhstan, the Korean Peninsula and Russia.-Description:...
, Meles leucurus - European badger, Meles meles
- Japanese badger
- Genus Mellivora
- Honey badger, Mellivora capensis
- Genus MelogaleMelogaleFerret-badgers are the five species of mustelids of the genus Melogale.* Bornean Ferret-badger * Chinese Ferret-badger * Javan Ferret-badger...
(Ferret badgers)- Bornean ferret-badger, Melogale everetti
- Chinese ferret-badger, Melogale moschata
- Javan ferret-badgerJavan Ferret-badgerThe Javan ferret-badger is a species of mammal in the Mustelidae family. It is endemic to Java and Bali in Indonesia. It sometimes includes one or several of the other members of the genus Melogale as subspecies....
, Melogale orientalis - Burmese ferret-badgerBurmese Ferret-badgerThe Burmese ferret-badger , also known as the large-toothed ferret-badger, is a species of mammal in the Mustelidae family.- External links:*- References :*...
, Melogale personata
- Genus Mustela (WeaselWeaselWeasels are mammals forming the genus Mustela of the Mustelidae family. They are small, active predators, long and slender with short legs....
s, FerretFerretThe ferret is a domesticated mammal of the type Mustela putorius furo. Ferrets are sexually dimorphic predators with males being substantially larger than females. They typically have brown, black, white, or mixed fur...
s, European MinkEuropean minkThe European mink , also known as the Russian mink, is a semi-aquatic species of Mustelid native to Europe. It is listed by the IUCN as Endangered due to an ongoing reduction in numbers, having been calculated as being more than 50% over the past three generations...
and StoatStoatThe stoat , also known as the ermine or short-tailed weasel, is a species of Mustelid native to Eurasia and North America, distinguished from the least weasel by its larger size and longer tail with a prominent black tip...
s)- Amazon weasel, Mustela africana
- Mountain weaselMountain WeaselThe mountain weasel , also known as the pale weasel, Altai weasel or solongoi, is a species of weasel that prefer to live in environments that are usually high in altitude as well as rocky tundra and grassy woodlands covered in green vegetation.They rest in rock crevices, tree trunks, and...
, Mustela altaica - StoatStoatThe stoat , also known as the ermine or short-tailed weasel, is a species of Mustelid native to Eurasia and North America, distinguished from the least weasel by its larger size and longer tail with a prominent black tip...
/ Ermine, Mustela erminea - Steppe polecatSteppe polecatThe steppe polecat , also known as the white or masked polecat, is a species of Mustelid native to Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia...
, Mustela eversmannii - Colombian weaselColombian WeaselColombian weasel , also known as Don Felipe's weasel, is a very rare species of weasel only known with certainty from the departments of Huila and Cauca in Colombia and nearby northern Ecuador...
, Mustela felipei - Long-tailed weaselLong-tailed WeaselThe long-tailed weasel , also known as the bridled weasel or big stoat is a species of mustelid distributed from southern Canada throughout all the United States and Mexico, southward through all of Central America and into northern South America.-Evolution:The long-tailed weasel is the product of...
, Mustela frenata - Japanese weaselJapanese WeaselThe Japanese weasel is a carnivorous mammal belonging to the genus Mustela in the family Mustelidae. It is native to Japan where it occurs on the islands of Honshū, Kyūshū and Shikoku...
, Mustela itatsi - Yellow-bellied weaselYellow-bellied WeaselThe yellow-bellied weasel is a species of weasel. It lives in the pine forests of Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam. The yellow-bellied weasel is rated "Least Concern" by the IUCN Red List. The yellow-bellied weasel is named for its yellow-colored underbelly. The...
, Mustela kathiah - European minkEuropean minkThe European mink , also known as the Russian mink, is a semi-aquatic species of Mustelid native to Europe. It is listed by the IUCN as Endangered due to an ongoing reduction in numbers, having been calculated as being more than 50% over the past three generations...
, Mustela lutreola - Indonesian mountain weaselIndonesian Mountain WeaselThe Indonesian mountain weasel is a species of weasel that lives on the islands of Java and Sumatra in Indonesia at elevations over 1,000 metres . They live in mountainous, tropical, and rainforest areas. Indonesian mountain weasels have a body length of 11-12 inches and a tail length of 5-6 inches...
, Mustela lutreolina - Black-footed ferretBlack-footed FerretThe Black-footed Ferret , also known as the American polecat or Prairie Dog Hunter, is a species of Mustelid native to central North America. It is listed as endangered by the IUCN, because of its very small and restricted populations...
, Mustela nigripes - Least weaselLeast WeaselThe least weasel is the smallest member of the Mustelidae , native to Eurasia, North America and North Africa, though it has been introduced elsewhere. It is classed as Least Concern by the IUCN, due to its wide distribution and presumably large population...
, Mustela nivalis - Malayan weaselMalayan WeaselThe Malayan weasel is a species of weasel. It lives in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. It is rated "Least Concern" by the IUCN Red List. Malayan weasels have a body length of 12-14 inches and a tail length of 9.4 to 10.2 inches. The body is reddish-brown to grayish-white. The head is a...
, Mustela nudipes - European polecatEuropean polecatThe European polecat , also known as the black or forest polecat , is a species of Mustelid native to western Eurasia and North Africa, which is classed by the IUCN as Least Concern due to its wide range and large numbers. It is of a generally dark brown colour, with a pale underbelly and a dark...
, Mustela putorius- Domesticated ferretFerretThe ferret is a domesticated mammal of the type Mustela putorius furo. Ferrets are sexually dimorphic predators with males being substantially larger than females. They typically have brown, black, white, or mixed fur...
, Mustela putorius furo
- Domesticated ferret
- Siberian weaselSiberian WeaselThe Siberian weasel , also known as the Kolonok, is a medium-sized species of weasel native to Asia. It is classed as Least Concern for extinction by the IUCN, due to its wide distribution and presumably large numbers....
, Mustela sibirica - Back-striped weasel, Mustela strigidorsa
- Egyptian weaselEgyptian WeaselThe Egyptian Weasel is a species of weasel that lives in northern Egypt. It is rated "Least Concern" by the IUCN Red List. The Egyptian weasel has short legs, a small head, and small ears. Its tail is long and thin. The weasel has a broad snout. The upper part of the body is brown and the lower...
, Mustela subpalmata
- Genus NeovisonNeovisonA genus of Mustelids, including the extinct sea mink and the extant American mink....
- American minkAmerican MinkThe American mink is a semi-aquatic species of Mustelid native to North America, though human intervention has expanded its range to many parts of Europe and South America. Because of this, it is classed as Least Concern by the IUCN. Since the extinction of the sea mink, the American mink is the...
, Neovison vison - Sea minkSea MinkThe Sea Mink, Neovison macrodon, is an extinct North American member of the family Mustelidae. It is the only mustelid, and one of only two terrestrial mammal species in the order Carnivora, to become extinct in historic times . The body of the sea mink was significantly longer than that of the...
, Neovison macrodon (19th century †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
)
- American mink
- Genus Poecilogale
- African striped weaselAfrican striped weaselThe African striped weasel , the lone member of genus Poecilogale, is a small black and white weasel native to sub-Saharan Africa. It looks very much like a striped polecat, but it is much thinner and has shorter hair. It is a sleek, black color with a white tail and four white stripes running...
, Poecilogale albinucha
- African striped weasel
- Genus Taxidea
- American badgerAmerican BadgerThe American badger is a North American badger, somewhat similar in appearance to the European badger. It is found in the western and central United States, northern Mexico and central Canada, as well as in certain areas of southwestern British Columbia.Their habitat is typified by open...
, Taxidea taxus
- American badger
- Genus Vormela
- Marbled polecatMarbled polecatThe marbled polecat is a small mammal belonging to the monotypic genus Vormela within the Mustelinae subfamily. Vormela is from the German word Würmlein, which means "little Worm". The term peregusna comes from pereguznya, which is Ukrainian for polecat...
, Vormela peregusna
- Marbled polecat