Weasel

The weasel belongs to this genus which includes the stoat, ferret and the mink and the genus Weasel nivalis or simply known as the weasel. The genus has 16 species that exist today and 10 of them have the word weasel in their common name.

On the other hand, other Mustelin also belonging to the subfamily Mustelinae but not the Weasel genus have the word weasel in their common name as well like the Patagonian weasel, striped weasel Sahara Poecilictis lybica and the white collar weasel Poecilogale albinucha.

Members of the genus Weasel vary in length from 13 cm in the case of the common weasel or lesser weasel, Weasel nivalis to about 55 cm in the case of American mink Weasel .

Some of the species that live at higher altitudes where it gets colder like the ermine Weasel change the colour of their coats in winter becoming white to blend with their surroundings.

They have elongated bodies, useful for hunting their prey in their burrows and tunnels. Usually, their tails are nearly as long as his body and as is typical of small carnivores, the Weasel has a reputation for intelligence and cunning.

There is much folklore and legend in the animal’s ability to hunt on other small mammals. In former times they were considered vermin, and had the ability to “steal” milk from rabbits with a “hypnotic dance” that numbed the prey during breast feeding and most folklore relates to the ermine.