Binomial name: Mustela nivalis
Basic characteristics
• Body: Elongated slim cylindrical body, short tail ( 4-6 cm ).
• Color: The upper part of its body is reddish-brown while its under part is creamy white.
• Size: The male may be 1.5 times longer than the female. Variations in tail length are also variable, constituting 13 to 30 percent of the length of the body. Average body length in males is 130 to 260 mm, while females average 114 to 204 mm. The tail measures 12 to 87 mm in males and 17 to 60 mm in females
• Weight: Males weigh 36 to 250 g, while females weigh 29 to 117 g.
• Dropping: Contains fur, feathers and bone remains from small rodents. Sausage twisted and pointed and approximately 2 mm thick.
Behavior
The weaseloccupies a wide range of habitats, from coastal to high mountain ranges. It can also be found living around people in buildings and cultivated areas. Weasels sexually mature at 3-4 months and reproduces 3-10 babies that are born wrinkled, pink and nakes. It can kill prey up to 5 times its own size. These mammals live up to 2 years in the wild and up to 10 years in captivity.
Feeding habits
Rodents, hare, birds, poultry and fruits.
Natural predator(s)
• Red fox • Jackals •Raptors