By Kerstin Bandner
Geographic Range
Mustela kathiah is found from northern Pakistan to southeast China, and throughout southeast Asia (Hussain 1999).
Biogeographic Regions:
palearctic 
(native ); oriental (native ).
Habitat
(5904 to 13120 ft)
Mustela kathiah prefers pine forests and is sometimes found above the timber line (Nowak and Paradiso 1983).
These animals are found in the following types of habitat:
terrestrial .
Physical Description
(3.43 lbs)
(9.84 to 10.63 in; avg. 10.24 in)
The dorsal surfaces of the pelt, including the tail, are dark brown, while the ventral surfaces are yellowish. The tail is more than half the length of the head and body. The upper lip, chin and throat are a lighter yellow-white color. The foot pads are well developed and exposed. The soles of the hind feet are bald (Hussain 1999; Sterndale 1992). Head and body length is from 250 to 270 mm, tail length from 125 to 150 mm (Nowak, 1997).
Some key physical features:
endothermic ; bilateral symmetry .
Reproduction
Late spring and early summer.
The mating system and behavior of M. katiah is unknown.
Little is known about reproductive behavior of Mustela kathiah. A den is built in a hole in the ground or under rocks or logs (Jha, 1999). If reproductive behavior in M. katiah is like that of its close relative, M. erminea, then breeding occurs annually with mating occurring in late spring or early summer and implantation of fertilized eggs delayed until the following spring. Females are therefore pregnant for approximately 10 months but gestation time is closer to 1 month in duration. Births occur in April and May with litter sizes ranging from 3 to 18. Females may become sexually mature in their first summer, males will reach sexual maturity after 1 year of age (Nowak, 1997).
Key reproductive features:
iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (internal ); viviparous ; delayed implantation .
If reproduction in M. katiah is similar to that in M. erminea then young are blind and helpless at birth but increase in size rapidly until about 8 weeks of age, when they are capable of hunting on their own. Females care for their young in the den until they gain independence (Nowak, 1997).
Parental investment:
altricial ; female parental care .
Lifespan/Longevity
Longevity in M. katiah may be similar to that of other mustelids. A captive M. sibirica lived to an age of 8 years and 10 months. In the wild it is likely that mustelids live for several years after reaching adulthood.
Behavior
The Nepalese kept yellow-bellied weasels to eradicate rodents in their homes and trained them to attack larger animals such as geese, goats, and sheep for sport (Hussain 1999; Sterndal 1982; Jha 1999).
Mustelids are typically nocturnal, solitary, and territorial (Nowak, 1997).
Key behaviors:
nocturnal ; motile ; solitary ; territorial .
Food Habits
Yellow-bellied weasels eat mostly rodents such as mice, rats, and voles. They will also eat birds and small mammals (Nowak and Paradiso 1983; Jha 1999). Excellent sight, hearing, and sense of smell enables Mustela kathiah to easily track its prey. With its lean build, it is able to chase rats and mice in their burrows and kill them with a bite to the neck.
Primary Diet:
carnivore (eats terrestrial vertebrates).
Animal Foods:
birds; mammals.
Predation
Members of the family Mustelidae are known for their ferocity and aggression. Mustela kathiah has been referred to as a hyperactive bundle of concentrated predatory energy (Jha, 1999).
Ecosystem Roles
It is likely that M. katiah acts to control rodent populations in the areas where it lives.
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
There are no known adverse effects of M. katiah on humans.
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
Yellow-bellied weasels are easily tamed and can be used to control rodents within human structures (Sterndale 1982).
Ways that people benefit from these animals:
controls pest population.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List: [link]:
Lower Risk - Least Concern.
US Federal List: [link]:
No special status.
CITES: [link]:
Appendix III.
Yellow-bellied weasels are listed in Schedule II part II of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, Appendix III of CITES, and DD during the CAMP Workshop (Hussain 1999). Substantial research on their biology and population status is required to make informed decisions about their protection.
Contributors
Kerstin Bandner (author), California State University Sacramento.
James Biardi (editor), California State University Sacramento.
