Altai weasel
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Altai weasel ( Mustela altaica ) |
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| Mustela altaica | ||||||||||||
| Pallas , 1811 |
The Altai weasel ( Mustela altaica ), also known under the misleading name Alpine weasel , is a species of predator from the family of the marten (Mustelidae) living in Asia .
description
Altaiwiesel have the typical build of weasels with an elongated, narrow trunk and relatively short limbs. The color of the coat changes with the seasons, but the change of coat is less pronounced than in related species, such as the ermine . The summer coat is gray or gray-brown, the winter coat is lighter, mostly dark yellow or light brown, with the underside being almost whitish. These animals reach a head body length of 22 to 28 centimeters, the tail is, as with all weasels, relatively short and measures 9 to 14 centimeters. Males weigh around 220 to 350 grams and are therefore heavier than females, who only reach 120 to 220 grams.
distribution and habitat
Altai weasels are common from southern Siberia and the Himalayan region to northern China and Korea . They inhabit mountain regions up to an altitude of 3500 meters. Their habitat are steppes and tree-lined areas.
Way of life
Altai weasels are primarily crepuscular or nocturnal. During the day they retreat into nests that they build in crevices in the rock, in the roots of trees or in abandoned burrows of other animals. Outside of the mating season, they live solitary.
They are skillful hunters who mainly feed on voles and whistles . To a lesser extent, they also consume other mammals, birds , lizards and insects .
After a gestation period of around 40 days, the female gives birth to two to eight young in May. They are weaned at two months and become independent, but siblings often stay together until autumn.
threat
Since Altai weasels eat rodents that are classified as harmful, they are usually met with benevolence. In contrast to related species, the processing of the Altai weasel plays only a subordinate role, so that the species is widespread and not one of the threatened species.
literature
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World . Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999 ISBN 0-8018-5789-9
Web links
- Mustela altaica inthe IUCN 2013 Red List of Threatened Species . Posted by: Abramov, A., Wozencraft, C. & Ying-xiang, W., 2008. Retrieved September 22, 2013.