Tropical weasel
| Tropical weasel | ||||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Mustela africana | ||||||||||||
| Desmarest , 1818 |
The Tropical weasel ( Mustela africana ) is a predatory species from the family of the Marder . The species is common in the Amazon basin in South America.
features
The tropical weasel reaches a head-trunk length of 24 to 38 centimeters and a tail length of 16 to 21 centimeters. The body is long and slender with short legs. The fur is reddish to dark brown in color, the belly side is lighter and has a stripe along the belly in the color of the back. The tail is a solid brown color. The toes are almost hairless on the underside.
distribution and habitat
The tropical weasel is common in the Amazon basin in South America, where it occurs in parts of Brazil , Ecuador , Peru , southern Colombia and northern Bolivia . The exact limits of the distribution area are unknown as only a few specimens have been described.
The animals use the humid and tropical rainforest areas along the river systems as their habitat.
Way of life
No information is available about the way of life of the tropical weasel. In its diet, it is likely similar to other species of weasel. Individual observations during the day indicate a diurnal lifestyle. It probably lives primarily on the ground, but is also a good swimmer and climber.
Systematics
The tropical weasel is assigned as an independent species of the Mustela genus within the marten , which currently consists of 17 species. Together with the Colombian weasel ( M. felipei ), the species forms the sub-genus of the South American weasel , which is sometimes viewed as a separate genus Grammogale .
Threat and protection
The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) classifies the species as Least Concern, although little information is available about the stocks. She justifies this with the large distribution area in which the species occurs. Potential declines in stocks are not viewed as threatening the existence of the company.
The main threats of this species are unclear. The loss of habitat due to the decline in tropical rainforest stocks in the Amazon basin is mentioned.
supporting documents
- ^ A b S. Larivière, AP Jennings: Family Mustelidae (Weasels and Relatives). In: Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier (eds.): Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Volume 1: Carnivores. Lynx Edicions, 2009, ISBN 978-84-96553-49-1 , (p. 649).
- ↑ a b c d Mustela africana in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2011.2. Posted by: L. Emmons, K. Helgen, 2008. Retrieved April 27, 2012.
- ↑ a b Don E. Wilson & DeeAnn M. Reeder (eds.): Mustela africana ( Memento of the original from March 25, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. in Mammal Species of the World. A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed).
literature
- S. Larivière, AP Jennings: Family Mustelidae (Weasels and Relatives). In: Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier (eds.): Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Volume 1: Carnivores. Lynx Edicions, 2009, ISBN 978-84-96553-49-1 , (p. 649).
Web links
- Mustela africana inthe IUCN 2011 Red List of Threatened Species . Posted by: L. Emmons, K. Helgen, 2008. Retrieved April 27, 2012.