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Species
Mustela nivalis Linnaeus, 1766
IUCN
NCBI
EOL Text
De wezel is zo klein dat hij muizen kan achtervolgen in hun eigen gangen. Op de waddeneilanden is de wezel alleen te vinden op Sylt. Op Ameland en Terschelling hebben ze even geleefd, maar nu komen ze er niet meer voor. Ook op veel plaatsen op het vasteland hebben wezels het moeilijk. Dit komt doordat er veel gemaaid wordt. Daardoor zijn er minder woelmuizen dan vroeger, en dus ook minder wezels.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Ecomare |
Source | http://www.ecomare.nl/index.php?id=4164&L=2 |
Least weasels are long and slender, with a long neck, a narrow head, and short limbs. They have large, black eyes and large, round ears. The feet have five fingers with sharp claws. The mass of least weasels varies depending upon their location. In North America least weasels range in weight from 30 to 55 grams, with males being slightly larger than females. Total length ranges from 165 to 205 mm, tail length ranges from 22 to 40 mm. Fur color is chocolate brown on their back and white with brown spots on the underparts. The summer coat is about 1 cm in length. The winter coat, which is about 1.5 cm in length, turns to all white in northern populations and remains brown in southern populations.
Range mass: 30.0 to 55.0 g.
Range length: 165.0 to 205.0 mm.
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry
Sexual Dimorphism: male larger
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/ |
Least weasels are aggressive and fierce and will attack animals much larger than themselves. Young in nests are preyed on by snakes, while adults may be preyed on by large birds of prey, such as owls and hawks.
Known Predators:
- owls (Strigiformes)
- hawks (Accipitridae)
- snakes (Serpentes)
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/ |
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 2
Specimens with Barcodes: 7
Species With Barcodes: 1
Los carnívoros más pequeños, por lo general, son los que queman más rápido la energía y su estilo de vida es de los más activos; por eso no sorprende que la comadreja, la miniatura de los mustélidos, consuma aproximadamente el equivalente a la mitad de su peso cada día; esto sería igual a dos ratones y un meteoro. Como las demás comadrejas, las hembras son de la mitad del tamaño de los machos y maduran más rápido; alcanzan la madurez sexual a los cuatro meses y los machos la alcanzan a los ocho meses. Las hembras producen dos camadas al año a diferencia de las comadrejas de cola larga y los armiños que son más grandes y su tasa de reproducción es menor. En el norte el pelaje de la comadreja cambia de color café a blanco durante el invierno, para así poderse camuflar en la nieve.
Adaptación: Los carnasiales, grandes y cortantes ubicados en la parte posterior dominan la estructura de la quijada de la Comadreja, Mustela nivalis, y esto es válido para todos los miembros de la familia de las comadrejas.
Enlaces:
Especies de Mamíferos del Mundo
Pulse aquí para el índice sobre especies de mamíferos de: The American Society of Mammalogists
Length: 21 cm
Weight: 50 grams
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | NatureServe |
Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Mustela+nivalis |
Least weasels play an important role in controlling rodent populations.
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/ |
Least weasels are generally widespread and abundant. Localized populations may be threatened by habitat destruction, but these animals are generally not threatened.
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
State of Michigan List: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
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/ |
Weasels are active at any time of day or night, and intersperse periods of activity with a rest period (3). They feed mainly on small rodents, rabbits, birds and eggs (3), killing prey with a bite to the neck (1). Their small size enables them to enter the tunnels of mice and voles whilst hunting (2), and they often take over the nests of their prey, lining their dens with fur from prey during cold weather (2). A number of dens will be used within the home range. Males and females occupy separate territories, and defend these against members of the opposite sex (2). During spring, males move around in search of a mate (2). The male and female often fight prior to copulation, and the male grabs the female by the neck before he mates (1). A single litter of between 4 and 6 (2) naked, blind and deaf (1) kits is produced each year; the kits are weaned after 3 to 4 weeks and begin to hunt well by 8 weeks of age (2), often accompanying their mother to hunt in 'gangs' (2). By 9 to 12 weeks after birth the family group starts to split up (1). Historically, weasels were believed to have magical powers, and were said to be able to bring their dead young back to life. It was also thought that they hypnotised their prey by dancing (4); in fact 'dancing' behaviour is thought to be a response to discomfort caused by internal parasites (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/ |
Dimorfismo Sexual: Los machos son más grandes que las hembras.
Longitud:
Rango: machos 180-205 mm; hembras 165-180 mm
Peso:
Rango: machos 40-55 g; hembras 30-50 g