The Amazon weasel (''Neogale africana''), also known as the tropical weasel, is a species of

weasel Weasels are mammals of the genus ''Mustela'' of the family Mustelidae. The genus ''Mustela'' includes the least weasels, polecats, stoats, ferrets and European mink. Members of this genus are small, active predators, with long and slend ...

native to South America. It was first identified from a museum specimen mislabelled as coming from Africa, hence the scientific name.

Taxonomy

Originally described in the genus '' Mustela'', a 2021 study reclassified it into the genus '' Neogale'' along with 2 other former ''Mustela'' species, as well as the two species formerly classified in ''

Neovison ''Neogale'' is a genus of mustelid native to the Americas, ranging from Alaska south to Bolivia. Members of this genus are known as New World weasels. Taxonomy Members in this genus were formerly classified into the genera '' Mustela'' and '' ...

''.

Description

The largest of the three species of South American weasel, Amazon weasels measure in total length, including a tail long. They have a typical body form for weasels, with a long, slender, torso and short legs and ears. They have short fur which varies from reddish to dark brown on the upper body, and is pale orange-tan on the underparts. A stripe of fur the same colour as that on the upper body runs down the centre of the chest and throat. The whiskers are short and the soles of the feet almost hairless. Females have three pairs of teats.

Distribution and habitat

Amazon weasels are known to inhabit the

Amazon basin The Amazon basin is the part of South America drained by the Amazon River and its tributaries. The Amazon drainage basin covers an area of about , or about 35.5 percent of the South American continent. It is located in the countries of Boli ...

in northern

Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

and eastern

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = National seal , national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...

and

Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ' ...

. However, the full extent of their range is unknown, and they probably also inhabit southern

Colombia Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular regions in North America—near Nicaragua's Caribbean coast—as well as in the Pacific Ocean. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the ...

Venezuela Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...

and

the Guyanas The Guianas, sometimes called by the Spanish loan-word ''Guayanas'' (''Las Guayanas''), is a region in north-eastern South America which includes the following three territories: * French Guiana, an overseas department and region of France * ...

, as well as northern

Bolivia , image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg , flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) with the coat of arms of Bolivia in the center , flag_alt2 = 7 × 7 square p ...

. The region is covered by

tropical rainforest Tropical rainforests are rainforests that occur in areas of tropical rainforest climate in which there is no dry season – all months have an average precipitation of at least 60 mm – and may also be referred to as ''lowland equator ...

, and, while detailed habitat preferences are unknown, the weasel has mostly been recovered near rivers. Two subspecies are recognised: * ''N. a. africana'' (northeastern Brazil) * ''N. a. stolzmanni'' (northwestern Brazil, Peru, Ecuador)

Biology and behaviour

The Amazon weasel is rarely seen and little is known of its habits. They eat rodents and other small mammals, and have been reported to construct burrows in the stumps of hollow trees.Emmons, L.H. (1997). ''Neotropical Rainforest Mammals'', 2nd ed. University of Chicago Press They have been found from sea level to , and have been reported to swim in rivers or estuaries, sometimes far from the shore.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1137422 Weasels Fauna of the Amazon Carnivorans of South America Mammals of Brazil Mammals of Ecuador Mammals of Peru Mammals described in 1818 Taxobox binomials not recognized by IUCN