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Long-tailed weasel - MUSTELA FRENATA
Class: Animals with Milk Glands (Mammalia)
The Name "Weasel": "Weasel" comes from the Old English word "weosule," which probably meant "flowing" - in reference to the musky secretions of the animal.
Location: From southern Canada to northern South America.
Habitat: Terrestrial. Forests.
Description: In summer the coat is brown on the back and paler on the underside. In some areas they have white markings on the face. In winter weasels living in northern areas become white all over, while in southern areas they merely become paler. The tip of the tail always remains black. The length of the head and body is about ten inches, with the tail an additional five inches. They weigh about half a pound.
Behavior: Like other species of weasel, this is a highly carnivorous creature, feeding on small birds, eggs, and rodents and any other small mammals it might come upon. It captures its prey with rapid movement and inflicts a fatal bite on the nape of its victim's neck. It causes severe damage in chicken coops, but is a welcome as an enemy to mice. It makes its den in a hole in the ground or under rocks or logs and is a nocturnal, solitary animal.
Reproduction: Mating takes place in July or August, but implantation is delayed until four weeks before birth in April or May. The offspring nurse for six to eight weeks, and become independent at about three months. Females are sexually mature at four months, but the male takes a year to reach the same stage.
Go to the Carnivore Page to learn more about all the meat-eating animals.
Go to the Common Weasel for
the only other Weasel listed in America Zoo.
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