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Species
Mustela nivalis Linnaeus, 1766
IUCN
NCBI
EOL Text
Global Range: Circumboreal, Holarctic distribution. Western Hemisphere: most of Canada and Alaska south to British Columbia, Montana, Wyoming, Oklahoma, Missouri, Ohio, Virginia, and along the Appalachians to the Great Smoky Mountains (North Carolina, Tennessee). Range has expanded southward in the Great Plains since the mid-1960s as the climate has become cooler and more mesic (Frey 1992). Thought to be rare (though sometimes locally fairly common) throughout the range in the southeastern U.S., but actual status is uncertain (Handley 1991). Introduced in New Zealand, Malta, Crete, the Azore Islands, and apparently also Sao Tome off west Africa (Sheffield and King 1994). Ranges to 3660 m in mountains of Eurasia.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | NatureServe |
Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Mustela+nivalis |
Non-Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species do not make significant seasonal migrations. Juvenile dispersal is not considered a migration.
Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).
Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | NatureServe |
Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Mustela+nivalis |
Maximum longevity: 9.1 years (captivity) Observations: One wild born specimen was still alive at 9.1 years of age (Richard Weigl 2005). Anecdotal reports of animals living more than 10 years are plausible but remain unverified.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Copyright © 2002 - 2009 by Joao Pedro de Magalhaes |
Source | http://genomics.senescence.info/species/entry.php?species=Mustela_nivalis |
Research is currently being carried out to determine whether the populations of weasels and stoats, our smallest carnivores are in decline (4). Weasels are not legally protected in the UK (2).
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Copyright Wildscreen 2003-2008 |
Source | http://www.arkive.org/weasel/mustela-nivalis/ |
Least weasels are native to the Nearctic and Palearctic regions and have been introduced to the Australian region. They are found throughout Europe and northern Asia (excluding Ireland, the Arabian Pennisula, and Artic islands), in Japan, and throughout North America. In North America they range from Alaska and northern Canada south to Wyoming and North Carolina. A population of least weasels was introduced to New Zealand as well.
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native ); palearctic (Native ); australian (Introduced )
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2012, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Mustela_nivalis/ |
The diet of least weasels is composed of small mammals, mainly rodents. When rodents are scarce, weasels will eat birds' eggs and nestlings. Their diet also ranges from insects to lizards. In the extreme northern populations they will eat the carcasses of brown lemmings. Males are better hunters and are more likely to hunt larger prey, while females will continue looking for small rodents (Sheffield, 1994).
Primary Diet: carnivore (Eats terrestrial vertebrates)
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Mustela_nivalis/ |
Mating System: polygynous
In North America, central Europe, and the former USSR, breeding can occur throughout the year, but the most breeding occurs in the spring and late summer. Gestation in least weasels lasts from 34 - 37 days. Litters may range from 1 - 7. A higher number of offspring per litter can be found in northern populations. Newborns weigh from 1.1 g to 1.7 g and are wrinkled, pink, naked, blind, and deaf. After 49 - 56 days, they have reached their adult length. By week 6 males are larger than females. In 9 - 12 weeks the family groups begin to break up, and in 12 - 15 weeks least weasels reach their adult mass. Females that are born in the spring are sexually mature in three months and may breed in their first summer. Summer and autumn born females are not as well developed and cannot breed until the next summer (Sheffield, 1994).
Breeding interval: Least weasels can breed once or twice each year.
Breeding season: Least weasels breed in spring and late summer.
Range number of offspring: 1.0 to 7.0.
Range gestation period: 37.0 (high) days.
Range weaning age: 18.0 (low) days.
Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 4.0 to 8.0 months.
Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 4.0 to 8.0 months.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (Internal ); viviparous
Average birth mass: 2.6 g.
Average number of offspring: 5.
Newborns weigh from 1.1 g to 1.7 g and are naked, blind, and deaf. They are nursed and cared for in the burrow by their mother. After 49 to 56 days, they have reached their adult length. By week 6, males are larger than females. In 9 to 12 weeks the family groups begin to break up, and in 12 to 15 weeks the weasels reach their adult weight.
Females care for and nurse their young until they become independent.
Parental Investment: altricial ; female parental care
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Mustela_nivalis/ |
Least weasels have been hunted and trapped by humans throughout the world (Sheffield, 1994). The help keep in check the populations of many species of rodents that are potentially harmful to agriculture.
Positive Impacts: controls pest population
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Mustela_nivalis/ |
河北,吉林,新疆,辽宁,黑龙江,内蒙古,四川
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | The Biodiversity Committee of Chinese Academy of Sciences,2011, EOL China Regional Center |
Source | No source database. |
Comments: Specialist predator of small mammals, especially voles, lemmings, and other mice. When small rodents are scarce, may consume other small vertebrates, insects, or worms. Young are adept at killing mice at 7 weeks.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | NatureServe |
Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Mustela+nivalis |