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The Mustelidae (; from Latin ''mustela'', weasel) are a family of
carnivorous A carnivore , or meat-eater (Latin, ''caro'', genitive ''carnis'', meaning meat or "flesh" and ''vorare'' meaning "to devour"), is an animal or plant whose food and energy requirements derive from animal tissues (mainly muscle, fat and other ...
mammal Mammals () are a group of vertebrate animals constituting the class Mammalia (), characterized by the presence of mammary glands which in females produce milk for feeding (nursing) their young, a neocortex (a region of the brain), fur ...
s, including
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 ...
s, badgers,
otter Otters are carnivorous mammals in the subfamily Lutrinae. The 13 extant otter species are all semiaquatic, aquatic, or marine, with diets based on fish and invertebrates. Lutrinae is a branch of the Mustelidae family, which also includes we ...
s,
ferret The ferret (''Mustela furo'') is a small, domesticated species belonging to the family Mustelidae. The ferret is most likely a domesticated form of the wild European polecat (''Mustela putorius''), evidenced by their interfertility. Other mus ...
s,
marten A marten is a weasel-like mammal in the genus ''Martes'' within the subfamily Guloninae, in the family Mustelidae. They have bushy tails and large paws with partially retractile claws. The fur varies from yellowish to dark brown, depending on ...
s,
mink Mink are dark-colored, semiaquatic, carnivorous mammals of the genera '' Neogale'' and '' Mustela'' and part of the family Mustelidae, which also includes weasels, otters, and ferrets. There are two extant species referred to as "mink": ...
s and
wolverine The wolverine (), (''Gulo gulo''; ''Gulo'' is Latin for " glutton"), also referred to as the glutton, carcajou, or quickhatch (from East Cree, ''kwiihkwahaacheew''), is the largest land-dwelling species of the family Mustelidae. It is a musc ...
s, among others. Mustelids () are a diverse group and form the largest family in the suborder
Caniformia Caniformia is a suborder within the order Carnivora consisting of "dog-like" carnivorans. They include dogs (wolves, foxes, etc.), bears, raccoons, and mustelids. The Pinnipedia ( seals, walruses and sea lions) are also assigned to this group. T ...
of the
order Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to: * Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood * Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of ...
Carnivora Carnivora is a Clade, monophyletic order of Placentalia, placental mammals consisting of the most recent common ancestor of all felidae, cat-like and canidae, dog-like animals, and all descendants of that ancestor. Members of this group are f ...
. They comprise about 66 to 70 species in nine subfamilies.


Variety

Mustelids vary greatly in size and behaviour. The smaller variants of the
least weasel The least weasel (''Mustela nivalis''), little weasel, common weasel, or simply weasel is the smallest member of the genus '' Mustela,'' family Mustelidae and order Carnivora. It is native to Eurasia, North America and North Africa, and has be ...
can be under in length, while the giant otter of Amazonian South America can measure up to and
sea otter The sea otter (''Enhydra lutris'') is a marine mammal native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean. Adult sea otters typically weigh between , making them the heaviest members of the weasel family, but among the smal ...
s can exceed in weight.
Wolverine The wolverine (), (''Gulo gulo''; ''Gulo'' is Latin for " glutton"), also referred to as the glutton, carcajou, or quickhatch (from East Cree, ''kwiihkwahaacheew''), is the largest land-dwelling species of the family Mustelidae. It is a musc ...
s can crush bones as thick as the femur of a
moose The moose (in North America) or elk (in Eurasia) (''Alces alces'') is a member of the New World deer subfamily and is the only species in the genus ''Alces''. It is the largest and heaviest extant species in the deer family. Most adult ma ...
to get at the marrow, and have been seen attempting to drive
bear Bears are carnivoran mammals of the family Ursidae. They are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans. Although only eight species of bears are extant, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the No ...
s away from their kills. The sea otter uses rocks to break open shellfish to eat.
Marten A marten is a weasel-like mammal in the genus ''Martes'' within the subfamily Guloninae, in the family Mustelidae. They have bushy tails and large paws with partially retractile claws. The fur varies from yellowish to dark brown, depending on ...
s are largely arboreal, while European badgers dig extensive tunnel networks, called setts. Only one mustelid has been domesticated; the
ferret The ferret (''Mustela furo'') is a small, domesticated species belonging to the family Mustelidae. The ferret is most likely a domesticated form of the wild European polecat (''Mustela putorius''), evidenced by their interfertility. Other mus ...
. Tayra are also kept as pets (although they require a Dangerous Wild Animals licence in the UK), or as working animals for hunting or vermin control. Others have been important in the
fur trade The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of a world fur market in the early modern period, furs of boreal ecosystem, boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals h ...
—the
mink Mink are dark-colored, semiaquatic, carnivorous mammals of the genera '' Neogale'' and '' Mustela'' and part of the family Mustelidae, which also includes weasels, otters, and ferrets. There are two extant species referred to as "mink": ...
is often raised for its fur. Being one of the most species-rich families in the order Carnivora, the family Mustelidae also is one of the oldest. Mustelid-like forms first appeared about 40 million years ago (Mya), roughly coinciding with the appearance of
rodent Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the order Rodentia (), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal species are rodents. They are n ...
s. The common ancestor of modern mustelids appeared about 18 Mya.


Characteristics

Within a large range of variation, the mustelids exhibit some common characteristics. They are typically small animals with elongated bodies, short legs, short skulls, short, round ears, and thick fur. Most mustelids are solitary, nocturnal animals, and are active year-round. With the exception of the sea otter, they have
anal scent gland Anal may refer to: Related to the anus *Related to the anus of animals: ** Anal fin, in fish anatomy ** Anal vein, in insect anatomy ** Anal scale, in reptile anatomy *Related to the human anus: ** Anal sex, a type of sexual activity involving ...
s that produce a strong-smelling secretion the animals use for sexual signaling and
marking territory In ethology, territory is the sociographical area that an animal consistently defends against conspecific competition (or, occasionally, against animals of other species) using agonistic behaviors or (less commonly) real physical aggression. A ...
. Most mustelid reproduction involves embryonic diapause. The
embryo An embryo is an initial stage of development of a multicellular organism. In organisms that reproduce sexually, embryonic development is the part of the life cycle that begins just after fertilization of the female egg cell by the male spe ...
does not immediately implant in the
uterus The uterus (from Latin ''uterus'', plural ''uteri'') or womb () is the organ in the reproductive system of most female mammals, including humans that accommodates the embryonic and fetal development of one or more embryos until birth. The ...
, but remains dormant for some time. No development takes place as long as the embryo remains unattached to the uterine lining. As a result, the normal gestation period is extended, sometimes up to a year. This allows the young to be born under favorable environmental conditions. Reproduction has a large energy cost, so it is to a female's benefit to have available food and mild weather. The young are more likely to survive if birth occurs after previous offspring have been weaned. Mustelids are predominantly carnivorous, although some eat vegetable matter at times. While not all mustelids share an identical
dentition Dentition pertains to the development of teeth and their arrangement in the mouth. In particular, it is the characteristic arrangement, kind, and number of teeth in a given species at a given age. That is, the number, type, and morpho-physiolo ...
, they all possess teeth adapted for eating flesh, including the presence of shearing carnassials. One characteristic trait is a meat-shearing upper-back molar that is rotated 90°, towards the inside of the mouth. With variation between species, the most common
dental formula Dentition pertains to the development of teeth and their arrangement in the mouth. In particular, it is the characteristic arrangement, kind, and number of teeth in a given species at a given age. That is, the number, type, and morpho-physiolog ...
is .


Ecology

The
fisher Fisher is an archaic term for a fisherman, revived as gender-neutral. Fisher, Fishers or The Fisher may also refer to: Places Australia *Division of Fisher, an electoral district in the Australian House of Representatives, in Queensland *Elect ...
, tayra, and martens are partially arboreal, while badgers are
fossorial A fossorial () animal is one adapted to digging which lives primarily, but not solely, underground. Some examples are badgers, naked mole-rats, clams, meerkats, and mole salamanders, as well as many beetles, wasps, and bees. Prehistoric evid ...
. A number of mustelids have aquatic lifestyles, ranging from semiaquatic minks and river otters to the fully aquatic sea otter, which is one of the few nonprimate mammals known to use tools while foraging. It uses "anvil" stones to crack open the shellfish that form a significant part of its diet. It is a "
keystone species A keystone species is a species which has a disproportionately large effect on its natural environment relative to its abundance, a concept introduced in 1969 by the zoologist Robert T. Paine. Keystone species play a critical role in maintaini ...
", keeping its prey populations in balance so some do not outcompete the others and destroy the
kelp Kelps are large brown algae seaweeds that make up the order Laminariales. There are about 30 different genera. Despite its appearance, kelp is not a plant - it is a heterokont, a completely unrelated group of organisms. Kelp grows in "underwa ...
in which they live. The
black-footed ferret The black-footed ferret (''Mustela nigripes''), also known as the American polecatHeptner, V. G. (Vladimir Georgievich); Nasimovich, A. A; Bannikov, Andrei Grigorovich; Hoffmann, Robert S. (2001)''Mammals of the Soviet Union''Volume: v. 2, pt. 1 ...
is entirely dependent on another keystone species, the
prairie dog Prairie dogs (genus ''Cynomys'') are herbivorous Burrow, burrowing Marmotini , ground squirrels native to the grasslands of North America. Within the genus are five species: black-tailed prairie dog, black-tailed, white-tailed prairie dog, wh ...
. A family of four ferrets eats 250 prairie dogs in a year; this requires a stable population of prairie dogs from an area of some .


Animals of similar appearance

Skunk Skunks are mammals in the family Mephitidae. They are known for their ability to spray a liquid with a strong, unpleasant scent from their anal glands. Different species of skunk vary in appearance from black-and-white to brown, cream or gin ...
s were formerly included as a subfamily of the mustelids, but are now regarded as a separate family (Mephitidae). Mongooses bear a striking resemblance to many mustelids, but belong to a distinctly different
suborder Order ( la, ordo) is one of the eight major hierarchical taxonomic ranks in Linnaean taxonomy. It is classified between family and class. In biological classification, the order is a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms and ...
—the Feliformia (all those carnivores sharing more recent origins with the
cats The cat (''Felis catus'') is a domestic species of small carnivorous mammal. It is the only domesticated species in the family Felidae and is commonly referred to as the domestic cat or house cat to distinguish it from the wild members o ...
) and not the
Caniformia Caniformia is a suborder within the order Carnivora consisting of "dog-like" carnivorans. They include dogs (wolves, foxes, etc.), bears, raccoons, and mustelids. The Pinnipedia ( seals, walruses and sea lions) are also assigned to this group. T ...
(those sharing more recent origins with the
dogs The dog (''Canis familiaris'' or ''Canis lupus familiaris'') is a domesticated descendant of the wolf. Also called the domestic dog, it is derived from the extinct Pleistocene wolf, and the modern wolf is the dog's nearest living relative. ...
). Because mongooses and mustelids occupy similar
ecological niche In ecology, a niche is the match of a species to a specific environmental condition. Three variants of ecological niche are described by It describes how an organism or population responds to the distribution of resources and competitors (for ...
s,
convergent evolution Convergent evolution is the independent evolution of similar features in species of different periods or epochs in time. Convergent evolution creates analogous structures that have similar form or function but were not present in the last com ...
has led to similarity in form and behavior.


Human uses

Several mustelids, including the mink, the
sable The sable (''Martes zibellina'') is a species of marten, a small omnivorous mammal primarily inhabiting the forest environments of Russia, from the Ural Mountains throughout Siberia, and northern Mongolia. Its habitat also borders eastern Kaza ...
(a type of marten), and the stoat (ermine), possess furs that are considered beautiful and valuable, so have been hunted since prehistoric times. From the early Middle Ages, the trade in furs was of great economic importance for northern and eastern European nations with large native populations of fur-bearing mustelids, and was a major economic impetus behind Russian expansion into
Siberia Siberia ( ; rus, Сибирь, r=Sibir', p=sʲɪˈbʲirʲ, a=Ru-Сибирь.ogg) is an extensive geographical region, constituting all of North Asia, from the Ural Mountains in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east. It has been a part ...
and French and English expansion in North America. In recent centuries
fur farming Fur farming is the practice of breeding or raising certain types of animals for their fur. Most of the world's farmed fur is produced by European farmers. In 2018, there were 5,000 fur farms in the EU, all located across 22 countries; these ...
, notably of mink, has also become widespread and provides the majority of the fur brought to market. One species, the sea mink (''Neogale macrodon'') of New England and Canada, was driven to
extinction Extinction is the termination of a kind of organism or of a group of kinds (taxon), usually a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the Endling, last individual of the species, although the Functional ext ...
by fur trappers. Its appearance and habits are almost unknown today because no complete specimens can be found and no systematic contemporary studies were conducted. The
sea otter The sea otter (''Enhydra lutris'') is a marine mammal native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean. Adult sea otters typically weigh between , making them the heaviest members of the weasel family, but among the smal ...
, which has the densest fur of any animal, narrowly escaped the fate of the sea mink. The discovery of large populations in the North Pacific was the major economic driving force behind Russian expansion into Kamchatka, the
Aleutian Islands The Aleutian Islands (; ; ale, Unangam Tanangin,”Land of the Aleuts", possibly from Chukchi ''aliat'', "island"), also called the Aleut Islands or Aleutic Islands and known before 1867 as the Catherine Archipelago, are a chain of 14 large v ...
, and
Alaska Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U ...
, as well as a cause for conflict with
Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the n ...
and foreign hunters in the
Kuril Islands The Kuril Islands or Kurile Islands (; rus, Кури́льские острова́, r=Kuril'skiye ostrova, p=kʊˈrʲilʲskʲɪjə ɐstrɐˈva; Japanese language, Japanese: or ) are a volcanic archipelago currently administered as part of Sakh ...
. Together with widespread hunting in California and British Columbia, the species was brought to the brink of extinction until an international moratorium came into effect in 1911. Today, some mustelids are threatened for other reasons. Sea otters are vulnerable to
oil spill An oil spill is the release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment, especially the marine ecosystem, due to human activity, and is a form of pollution. The term is usually given to marine oil spills, where oil is released into t ...
s and the indirect effects of overfishing; the
black-footed ferret The black-footed ferret (''Mustela nigripes''), also known as the American polecatHeptner, V. G. (Vladimir Georgievich); Nasimovich, A. A; Bannikov, Andrei Grigorovich; Hoffmann, Robert S. (2001)''Mammals of the Soviet Union''Volume: v. 2, pt. 1 ...
, a relative of the
European polecat The European polecat (''Mustela putorius''), also known as the common polecat, black polecat, or forest polecat, is a species of mustelid native to western Eurasia and North Africa. It is of a generally dark brown colour, with a pale underbelly ...
, suffers from the loss of American prairie; and
wolverine The wolverine (), (''Gulo gulo''; ''Gulo'' is Latin for " glutton"), also referred to as the glutton, carcajou, or quickhatch (from East Cree, ''kwiihkwahaacheew''), is the largest land-dwelling species of the family Mustelidae. It is a musc ...
populations are slowly declining because of habitat destruction and persecution. The rare European mink (''Mustela lutreola'') is one of the most
endangered An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and in ...
mustelid species. The
ferret The ferret (''Mustela furo'') is a small, domesticated species belonging to the family Mustelidae. The ferret is most likely a domesticated form of the wild European polecat (''Mustela putorius''), evidenced by their interfertility. Other mus ...
, a domesticated European polecat, is a fairly common pet.


Evolution and systematics

The oldest known mustelid from North America is ''
Corumictis ''Corumictis'' is an extinct genus of mustelid from the Early Oligocene (Arikareean) of North America, specifically Oregon. It contains a single species ''Corumictis wolsani'', which is notable for being the oldest currently known mustelid. Name ...
wolsani'' from the early and late Oligocene (early and late Arikareean, Ar1–Ar3) of
Oregon Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...
. Middle Oligocene ''Mustelictis'' from Europe might be a mustelid, as well. Other early fossils of the mustelids were dated at the end of the Oligocene to the beginning of the Miocene. Which of these forms are Mustelidae ancestors and which should be considered the first mustelids is unclear. The fossil record indicates that mustelids appeared in the late Oligocene period (33 Mya) in Eurasia and migrated to every continent except Antarctica and Australia (all the continents that were connected during or since the early Miocene). They reached the Americas via the Bering land bridge. The 68 recent mustelids (66 extant species) are classified into eight subfamilies in 22 genera: Subfamily Taxidiinae * Genus '' Taxidea'' **
American badger The American badger (''Taxidea taxus'') is a North American badger similar in appearance to the European badger, although not closely related. It is found in the western, central, and northeastern United States, northern Mexico, and south-ce ...
, ''T. taxus'' Subfamily Mellivorinae * Genus '' Mellivora'' ** Honey badger, ''M. capensis'' Subfamily Melinae * Genus '' Arctonyx'' ** Northern hog badger, ''A. albogularis'' ** Greater hog badger, ''A. collaris'' ** Sumatran hog badger, ''A. hoevenii'' * Genus '' Meles'' ** Japanese badger, ''M. anakuma'' ** Asian badger, ''M. leucurus'' ** European badger, ''M. meles'' **
Caucasian badger The Caucasian badger (''Meles canescens'') or Southwest Asian badger is a species of badger native to Western Asia and some islands in the Mediterranean Sea. Taxonomy The Caucasian badger was formerly thought to be a subspecies of the European ...
, ''M. canescens'' Subfamily Helictidinae * Genus '' Melogale'' **
Vietnam ferret-badger The Vietnam ferret-badger (''Melogale cucphuongensis'') is a member of the family Mustelidae native to Vietnam. It was described in 2011 and is known from only two specimens. Taxonomy The Vietnam ferret-badger is a member of the genus '' Melogal ...
, ''M. cucphuongensis'' ** Bornean ferret-badger, ''M. everetti'' ** Chinese ferret-badger, ''M. moschata'' ** Javan ferret-badger, ''M. orientalis'' **
Burmese ferret-badger The Burmese ferret-badger (''Melogale personata''), also known as the large-toothed ferret-badger, is a mustelid native to Southeast Asia. Description The Burmese ferret-badger has a head and body length of , a tail length of and a body weight ...
, ''M. personata'' **
Formosan ferret-badger The Formosan ferret-badger (''Melogale subaurantiaca'') is a mustelid species endemic to Taiwan. Taxonomy It was formerly thought to be conspecific with the Chinese ferret-badger (''M. moschata''), but a 2019 genetic study found it to represe ...
, ''M. subaurantiaca'' Subfamily
Guloninae Guloninae is a subfamily of the mammal family Mustelidae distributed across Eurasia and the Americas. It includes martens and the fisher, tayra and wolverine. These genera were formerly included within a paraphyletic definition of the mustelid ...
* Genus '' Eira'' ** Tayra, ''E. barbara'' * Genus '' Gulo'' **
Wolverine The wolverine (), (''Gulo gulo''; ''Gulo'' is Latin for " glutton"), also referred to as the glutton, carcajou, or quickhatch (from East Cree, ''kwiihkwahaacheew''), is the largest land-dwelling species of the family Mustelidae. It is a musc ...
, ''G. gulo'' * Genus '' Martes'' **
American marten The American marten (''Martes americana''), also known as the American pine marten, is a species of North American mammal, a member of the family Mustelidae. The species is sometimes referred to as simply the pine marten. The name "pine marten" ...
, ''M. americana'' ** Pacific marten, ''M. caurina'' ** Yellow-throated marten, ''M. flavigula'' ** Beech marten, ''M. foina'' ** Nilgiri marten, ''M. gwatkinsii'' ** European pine marten, ''M. martes'' ** Japanese marten, ''M. melampus'' **
Sable The sable (''Martes zibellina'') is a species of marten, a small omnivorous mammal primarily inhabiting the forest environments of Russia, from the Ural Mountains throughout Siberia, and northern Mongolia. Its habitat also borders eastern Kaza ...
, ''M. zibellina'' * Genus '' Pekania'' **
Fisher Fisher is an archaic term for a fisherman, revived as gender-neutral. Fisher, Fishers or The Fisher may also refer to: Places Australia *Division of Fisher, an electoral district in the Australian House of Representatives, in Queensland *Elect ...
, ''P. pennanti'' Subfamily
Ictonychinae Ictonychinae is a subfamily of the mammal family Mustelidae found mainly in the Neotropics (three species) and Africa (three species), with one Eurasian member. It includes the grison A grison , , also known as a South American wolverine, ...
* Genus '' Galictis'' ** Lesser grison, ''G. cuja'' ** Greater grison, ''G. vittata'' * Genus ''
Ictonyx ''Ictonyx'' is a genus in the family Mustelidae (weasels). It contains two species: * Saharan striped polecat (''Ictonyx libycus'') * Striped polecat The striped polecat (''Ictonyx striatus''), also called the African polecat, zoril, zori ...
'' ** Saharan striped polecat, ''I. libycus'' **
Striped polecat The striped polecat (''Ictonyx striatus''), also called the African polecat, zoril, zorille, zorilla, Cape polecat, and African skunk, is a member of the family Mustelidae that resembles a skunk (of the family Mephitidae). The name "zorilla" ...
, ''I. striatus'' * Genus ''
Lyncodon The Patagonian weasel (''Lyncodon patagonicus'') is a small mustelid that is the only member of the genus ''Lyncodon''. Its geographic range is the Pampas of western Argentina and sections of Chile. An early mention of the animal is in the Journ ...
'' **
Patagonian weasel The Patagonian weasel (''Lyncodon patagonicus'') is a small mustelid that is the only member of the genus ''Lyncodon''. Its geographic range is the Pampas of western Argentina and sections of Chile. An early mention of the animal is in the Journ ...
, ''L. patagonicus'' * Genus ''
Poecilogale The African striped weasel (''Poecilogale albinucha''), the lone member of the genus ''Poecilogale'', is a small, black and white weasel native to sub-Saharan Africa. Description The African striped weasel is one of the smallest mammalian carn ...
'' **
African striped weasel The African striped weasel (''Poecilogale albinucha''), the lone member of the genus ''Poecilogale'', is a small, black and white weasel native to sub-Saharan Africa. Description The African striped weasel is one of the smallest mammalian carn ...
, ''P. albinucha'' * Genus '' Vormela'' **
Marbled polecat The marbled polecat (''Vormela peregusna'') is a small mammal belonging to the monotypic genus ''Vormela'' within the mustelid subfamily Ictonychinae. ''Vormela'' is from the German word , which means "little worm". The specific name ''pereg ...
, ''V. peregusna'' Subfamily Lutrinae (
otter Otters are carnivorous mammals in the subfamily Lutrinae. The 13 extant otter species are all semiaquatic, aquatic, or marine, with diets based on fish and invertebrates. Lutrinae is a branch of the Mustelidae family, which also includes we ...
s) * Genus ''
Aonyx ''Aonyx'' is a genus of otters, containing three species, the African clawless otter, the Congo clawless otter, and the Asian small-clawed otter. The word ''aonyx'' means "clawless", derived from the prefix '' a-'' ("without") and ''onyx'' ("cl ...
'' **
African clawless otter The African clawless otter (''Aonyx capensis''), also known as the Cape clawless otter or groot otter, is the second-largest freshwater otter species. It inhabits permanent water bodies in savannah and lowland forest areas through most of sub-S ...
, ''A. capensis'' **
Asian small-clawed otter The Asian small-clawed otter (''Aonyx cinereus''), also known as the oriental small-clawed otter and the small-clawed otter, is an otter species native to South and Southeast Asia. It has short claws that do not extend beyond the pads of its w ...
, ''A. cinerea'' **
Congo clawless otter The Congo clawless otter (''Aonyx congicus''), also known as the Cameroon clawless otter, is a species in the family Mustelidae. It was formerly recognised as a subspecies (''Aonyx capensis congicus'') of the African clawless otter.
, ''A. congicus'' * Genus '' Enhydra'' **
Sea otter The sea otter (''Enhydra lutris'') is a marine mammal native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean. Adult sea otters typically weigh between , making them the heaviest members of the weasel family, but among the smal ...
, ''E. lutris'' * Genus ''
Lontra ''Lontra'' is a genus of otters from the Americas. Species These species were previously included in the genus ''Lutra'', together with the Eurasian otter The Eurasian otter (''Lutra lutra''), also known as the European otter, Eurasian river ...
'' **
North American river otter The North American river otter (''Lontra canadensis''), also known as the northern river otter and river otter, is a semiaquatic mammal that only lives on the North American continent, along its waterways and coasts. An adult North American rive ...
, ''L. canadensis'' ** Marine otter, ''L. felina'' **
Neotropical otter The Neotropical otter or Neotropical river otter (''Lontra longicaudis'') is an otter species found in Mexico, Central America, South America, and the island of Trinidad. It is physically similar to the northern and southern river otter, which oc ...
, ''L. longicaudis'' **
Southern river otter The southern river otter (''Lontra provocax'') is a species of otter that lives in Chile and Argentina. Although called a "river otter", it inhabits both marine and freshwater environments. It sometimes is considered a subspecies of '' Lontra can ...
, ''L. provocax'' * Genus ''
Lutra ''Lutra'' is a genus of otters, one of seven in the subfamily Lutrinae. Taxonomy and evolution The genus includes these species: Extant species Extinct species *†'' Lutra affinis'' *†'' Lutra bressana '' *†'' Lutra bravardi'' *†'' ...
'' ** Eurasian otter, ''L. lutra'' ** Hairy-nosed otter, ''L. sumatrana'' **
Japanese otter The (''Lutra nippon'') or Japanese river otter is an extinct species of otter formerly widespread in Japan. Dating back to the 1880s, it was even seen in Tokyo. The population suddenly shrank in the 1930s, and the mammal nearly vanished. Since ...
. ''L. nippon'' * Genus '' Hydrictis'' ** Spotted-necked otter, ''H. maculicollis'' * Genus '' Lutrogale'' ** Smooth-coated otter, ''L. perspicillata'' * Genus '' Pteronura'' ** Giant otter, ''P. brasiliensis'' Subfamily Mustelinae (weasels, ferrets, and mink) * Genus '' Mustela'' **
Mountain weasel The mountain weasel (''Mustela altaica''), also known as the pale weasel, Altai weasel or ''solongoi'', primarily lives in high-altitude environments, as well as rocky tundra and grassy woodlands. This weasel rests in rock crevices, tree trunk ...
, ''M. altaica'' ** Stoat (Beringian ermine), ''M. erminea'' **
Steppe polecat The steppe polecat (''Mustela eversmanii''), also known as the white or masked polecat, is a species of mustelid native to Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List because of its wide dis ...
, ''M. eversmannii'' ** Domestic ferret, ''M. furo'' ** Haida ermine, ''M. haidarum'' **
Japanese weasel The Japanese weasel (''Mustela itatsi'') is a carnivorous mammal belonging to the genus '' Mustela'' in the family Mustelidae. The most closely related ''Mustela'' species is the Siberian weasel (''Mustela sibirica''). Its taxonomic species na ...
, ''M. itatsi'' ** Yellow-bellied weasel, ''M. kathiah'' ** European mink, ''M. lutreola'' ** Indonesian mountain weasel, ''M. lutreolina'' **
Black-footed ferret The black-footed ferret (''Mustela nigripes''), also known as the American polecatHeptner, V. G. (Vladimir Georgievich); Nasimovich, A. A; Bannikov, Andrei Grigorovich; Hoffmann, Robert S. (2001)''Mammals of the Soviet Union''Volume: v. 2, pt. 1 ...
, ''M. nigripes'' **
Least weasel The least weasel (''Mustela nivalis''), little weasel, common weasel, or simply weasel is the smallest member of the genus '' Mustela,'' family Mustelidae and order Carnivora. It is native to Eurasia, North America and North Africa, and has be ...
, ''M. nivalis'' **
Malayan weasel The Malayan weasel (''Mustela nudipes'') or Malay weasel is a weasel species native to the Malay Peninsula and the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Description The Malayan weasel is reddish- ...
, ''M. nudipes'' **
European polecat The European polecat (''Mustela putorius''), also known as the common polecat, black polecat, or forest polecat, is a species of mustelid native to western Eurasia and North Africa. It is of a generally dark brown colour, with a pale underbelly ...
, ''M. putorius'' **
American ermine The American ermine or American stoat (''Mustela richardsonii'') is a species of mustelid native to most of North America. Taxonomy It was long considered conspecific with the stoat (''M. erminea''), but a 2021 study found it to be a distinct ...
, ''M. richardsonii'' ** Siberian weasel, ''M. sibirica'' **
Back-striped weasel The back-striped weasel (''Mustela strigidorsa''), also called the stripe-backed weasel, is a weasel widely distributed in Southeastern Asia. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List in view of its presumed large population, occurrenc ...
, ''M. strigidorsa'' * Genus '' Neogale'' **
Amazon weasel The Amazon weasel (''Neogale africana''), also known as the tropical weasel, is a species of weasel native to South America. It was first identified from a museum specimen mislabelled as coming from Africa, hence the scientific name. Taxonomy ...
, ''N. africana'' **
Colombian weasel The Colombian weasel (''Neogale felipei''), also known as Don Felipe's weasel, is a very rare species of weasel only known with certainty from the departments of Huila and Cauca in Colombia and nearby northern Ecuador (where it is only known fr ...
, ''N. felipei'' ** Long-tailed weasel, ''N. frenata'' ** American mink, ''N. vison'' ** Sea mink, ''N. macrodon'' Fossil mustelids Extinct genera of the family Mustelidae include: * ''
Brachypsalis ''Brachypsalis'' is an extinct genus of mustelids, which existed during the Miocene period. The genus was first described by E. D. Cope in 1890. A similar genus, ''Brachypsaloides'', was later identified as synonymous with ''Brachypsalis''. ...
'' * ''
Chamitataxus ''Chamitataxus'' is a prehistoric badger genus. ''Chamitataxus avitus'' is the only known species of the genus. ''Chamitataxus'' lived during the Late Miocene, around 6 million years ago in what is now North America. Out of the three tax ...
'' * ''
Corumictis ''Corumictis'' is an extinct genus of mustelid from the Early Oligocene (Arikareean) of North America, specifically Oregon. It contains a single species ''Corumictis wolsani'', which is notable for being the oldest currently known mustelid. Name ...
'' * '' Cyrnaonyx'' * '' Ekorus'' * '' Enhydriodon'' * ''
Eomellivora ''Eomellivora'' is an extinct genus of prehistoric mustelids, closely related to the honey badger, known from Eurasia and North America, and tentatively Africa. It was one of the biggest mustelids ever known, bigger and more hypercarnivorous than ...
'' * ''Hoplictis'' * ''
Megalictis ''Megalictis'' is an extinct genus of large predatory mustelids that existed in North America during the " cat gap" from the Late Arikareean (Ar4) in the Miocene epoch. It is thought to have resembled a huge ferret, with a body mass of up to . H ...
'' * ''
Oligobunis ''Oligobunis'' is an extinct genus of mustelids, which existed during the Miocene epoch. The genus was first described by E. D. Cope in 1881. Cope assigned the genus to the family Mustelidae, and J. A. Baskin assigned it to the subfamily Ol ...
'' * ''
Plesictis ''Plesictis'' is an extinct prehistoric genus of mustelid (originally described as a procyonid) endemic to Europe during the Oligocene and Miocene 33.9—20.0 Ma existing for approximately . ''Plesictis'' was a long animal, resembling a we ...
'' * '' Sthenictis'' * '' Teruelictis'' * ''Trochictis''


Phylogeny

Multigene phylogenies constructed by Koepfli et al. (2008) and Law et al. (2018) found that Mustelidae comprises eight living subfamilies. The early mustelids appear to have undergone two rapid bursts of diversification in Eurasia, with the resulting species spreading to other continents only later. File:MustelidaePhylogeneticTree (edited).jpg, Phylogenetic tree of Mustelidae. Contains 53 of the 79 putative mustelid species. File:Mustelidae timetree (edited).jpg, Time-calibrated tree of Mustelidae showing divergence times between lineages. Split times include: 28.8 million years ( Ma) for mustelids vs. procyonids; 17.8 Ma for Taxidiinae; 15.5 Ma for Mellivorinae; 14.8 Ma for Melinae; 14.0 Ma for Guloninae + Helictidinae; 11.5 Ma for Guloninae + Naquinae vs. Helictidinae; 12.0 Ma for Ictonychinae; 11.6 Ma for Lutrinae vs. Mustelinae. Mustelid species diversity is often attributed to an adaptive radiation coinciding with the mid-Miocene climate transition. Contrary to expectations, Law et al. (2018) found no evidence for rapid bursts of lineage diversification at the origin of the Mustelidae, and further analyses of lineage diversification rates using molecular and fossil-based methods did not find associations between rates of lineage diversification and mid-Miocene climate transition as previously hypothesized.


See also

*
List of heaviest extant mustelids Mustelidae is a family (biology), family of mammals in the order (biology), order Carnivora, which includes weasels, badgers, otters, ferrets, martens, minks, and wolverines, and many other extant taxon, extant and extinction, extinct genus, gener ...


References


Further reading

*


External links


The Mighty Weasel
(February 19, 2020) – ''
Nature Nature, in the broadest sense, is the physical world or universe. "Nature" can refer to the phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general. The study of nature is a large, if not the only, part of science. Although humans are ...
'' {{Authority control Carnivorans Mammal families Extant Oligocene first appearances Taxa named by Gotthelf Fischer von Waldheim