Egyptian weasel

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Egyptian weasel
Systematics
Subordination : Canine (Caniformia)
Superfamily : Marten relatives (Musteloidea)
Family : Marten (Mustelidae)
Subfamily : Mustelinae
Genre : Mustela
Type : Egyptian weasel
Scientific name
Mustela subpalmata
Hemprich & Ehrenberg , 1833

The Egyptian weasel ( Mustela subpalmata ) is a predator of the marten family that can only be found in Egypt .

features

The Egyptian weasel is slightly larger than the European mouse weasel . The males reach a total length of 36.1 to 43.0, while the females are 32.6 to 36.9 inches long. The tail accounts for 10.9 to 12.9 centimeters for the males and 9.4 to 11.0 centimeters for the females. The males have a body weight of 60 to 130 grams, the females weigh 45 to 60 grams.

The weasel is very slender with a long body and short legs. The head is relatively small with a wide snout and small ears. The back, head, legs and tail are dark brown, the throat and belly are white to cream in color, sometimes with brown spots. The tail is slender and darker in color at the tip.

distribution

Distribution area of ​​the Egyptian weasel

The distribution of the Egyptian weasel is limited to the lower Nile Valley in Egypt between Beni Suef in the south and Alexandria and the Nile Delta in the north. It lives here in all habitats, including in human settlements or in their immediate vicinity, and can occasionally be discovered in houses and in vehicles.

Systematics

The Egyptian weasel was considered a subspecies of the mouse weasel ( Mustela nivalis ) until 1992 and was then regarded as a separate species. However, genetic analysis continues to support subspecies status.

Threat and protection

The species is rated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) as “Least Concern”, despite its limited range, because it is very adaptable. A decline in the population and a greater threat to the species are not known.

supporting documents

  1. ^ A b Richard Hoath: A Field Guide to the Mammals of Egypt. American University in Cairo Press, 2009; Pp. 81-82. ( Google Books )
  2. ↑ a b Mustela subpalmata in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2011. Posted by: R. McDonald, M. Hoffmann, 2008. Accessed December 30, 2011th
  3. ^ Van Zyll de Jong, CG: A morphometric analysis of cranial variation in Holarctic weasels ( Mustela nivalis ) . In: Journal of Mammals . 57, 1992, pp. 77-93.
  4. ↑ Don E. Wilson & DeeAnn M. Reeder (eds.): Mustela subpalmata ( Memento of March 31, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) in Mammal Species of the World. A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed).
  5. ↑ Mónica Rodrigues, Arthur R. Bos, Richard Hoath, Patrick J. Schembri, Petros Lymberakis, Michele Cento, Wissem Ghawar, Sakir O. Ozkurt, Margarida Santos-Reis, Juha Merilä, Carlos Fernandes: Taxonomic status and origin of the Egyptian weasel (Mustela subpalmata) inferred from mitochondrial DNA . In: Genetica . tape 144 , no. 2 , April 2016, p. 191-202 , doi : 10.1007 / s10709-016-9889-y , PMID 26961232 .

Web links

Commons : Egyptian Weasel  - Collection of images, videos and audio files