Chordates • Earth.com

Altai weasel

(Mustela altaica)

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Description

The Altai weasel ( Mustela altaica Pallas,1811 ) is a carnivorous mammal belonging to the family Mustelidae The weasel of the Altai has little sexual dimorphism.The males measure about 22-28 cm from the head to the base of the tail,and have a tail of 10-15 cm.They weigh between 230 and 340 g.The females are slightly smaller: they have a head-body length of 22-25 cm,have a tail of 8.9-13 cm and weigh 110-230 g.This species performs muteseasonal in spring and autumn.The summer coat consists of a fur color ranging from gray to gray-brown,with some areas of light yellow,while the winter is dark yellow with some brown areas.In both these cloaks,the ventral region has variable color from light yellow to creamy white.The upper part of the head,between the muzzle and the ears,is usually of a darker gray-brown.The tail can have more reddish shades of the back.The lips are white and the vibrisses on the chin are brownish-grayish.

Taxonomic tree:

Domain:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum:
Class: Mammalia
Order:Carnivora
Family:Mustelidae
Genus:Mustela
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