Description
The species is named for its yellow-colored underbelly; the upperside of the body and the tail are of a dark brown. Body length is . The tail of is about half as long as the body. Mean weight is about .Taxonomy
Two subspecies are recognized: ''M. k. caporiaccoi'' (de Beaux, 1935) and ''M. k. kathiah'' (Hodgson, 1835).Distribution and habitat
The yellow-bellied weasel occurs in Bhutan, Burma, China, India, Laos, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand and Vietnam. It inhabits forested habitats at elevations of , but moves down to lower elevations in winter; in winter it may come down lower than 1,000 m.Ecology
Yellow-bellied weasels eat birds, mice, rats, voles, and other small mammals. Yellow-bellied weasels first build a den in the ground. Breeding occurs annually. Mating occurs in late spring or early summer. Females are pregnant for about ten months. The female gives birth to 3-18 kits in April or May. By the time the kits are eight weeks old, they are ready to go out and hunt on their own.References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q46144 Weasels Mammals of China Mammals of Nepal Mammals of India Mammals of Southeast Asia Mammals described in 1835 Taxonomy articles created by Polbot