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Home -> Kingdom Animalia -> Phylum Chordata -> Subphylum Vertebrata -> Class Mammalia -> Order Carnivora -> Suborder Caniformia -> Family Mustelidae -> Subfamily Mustelinae -> Species Mustela sibirica

Mustela sibirica
Siberian weasel



2008/10/12 10:57:47.415 GMT-4

By Jason Kreutzer

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Caniformia
Family: Mustelidae
Subfamily: Mustelinae
Genus: Mustela
Species: Mustela sibirica

Geographic Range

Mustela sibirica can be found throughout eastern Asia, north to the Sea of Okhotsk, and south to Kwangtung in China. In the south they range west to the edge of Tibet and the Gobi Desert, and north of the Gobi extending to European Russia. They have also been introduced to many of the islands of Japan. (Xu et al.,1995; Honacki et al., 1982; Tate and Hamiliton, 1947)

Biogeographic Regions:
palearctic (native ); oriental (introduced , native ).

Habitat

Elevation
1400 to 1700 m
(4592 to 5576 ft)


In Taiwan, Siberian weasels are mainly found in secondary forests at elevations of 1400-1700m. Siberian weasels can also be found, in less abundance, in primary forest and coniferous plantations. The preferred terrain for this species varies from ridges with 13 degree slopes to areas near water with slopes up to 37 degrees. (Hai-Yin, 1999)

These animals are found in the following types of habitat:
temperate .

Terrestrial Biomes:
tundra ; forest ; mountains .

Other:
agricultural .

Physical Description

Mass
57 g (average)
(2.01 oz)


Length
48 to 66 cm; avg. 57 cm
(18.9 to 25.98 in; avg. 22.44 in)


M. sibirica is pale brown on the back, gradually changing to a paler, yellowish brown below. The tip of the tail may be a darker shade of brown than the rest, but is not black. These animals measure 48 to 66cm from head to tail, with tail length from 18 to 25.5cm. The foot measures from 6 to 7.2cm. Average adult body weight is 57g with males slightly larger than females. (Tate and Hamilton, 1947; Gittlemen, 1985)

Some key physical features:
endothermic ; bilateral symmetry .

Reproduction

Breeding season
Breeding occurs from May to June.

Number of offspring
2 to 12; avg. 5

Gestation period
28 to 30 days; avg. 29 days

Time to weaning
56 days (average)

Age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)
2 years (average)

Age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)
2 years (average)

Males may fight over access to females during the breeding season (Nowak, 1999).

Mating systems:
polygynous .

M. sibirica breeds yearly during the late winter and early spring. Several males may court a single female, and fights between males have been noted. (Nowak, 1999) The gestation period is about 29 days and births occur from April to June. Litters average 5 pups, and range in size from 2 to 12 pups. Offspring are altricial. Eyes open at one month of age, and weaning occurs at two months. (Nowak, 1999) The weaning age for M. sibirica is 56 days and sexual maturity is reached at about 2 years of age. (Gittleman, 1985)

Key reproductive features:
iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (internal ); viviparous .

Young Siberian weasels are cared for by their mother in her nest for several months. Their eyes open at about 1 month old and lactation lasts for almost two months. Young disperse from their mother's range in the fall. (Nowak, 1999)

Parental investment:
altricial ; female parental care .

Lifespan/Longevity

Average lifespan (wild)
2.10 years

Extreme lifespan (wild)
6 years (high)

Extreme lifespan (captivity)
9 years (high)

Average lifespan (wild)
2.10 years

Average lifespan (wild)
2.10 years
[External Source: AnAge]


Typical lifespan (captivity)

[External Source: AnAge]


Extreme lifespan (captivity)
8.80 years (high)
[External Source: AnAge]


A study of wild populations in Japan showed that the average longevity of Siberian weasels was about 2.1 years. The oldest weasels were found to be between 5 and 6 years old. One captive M. sibirica lived to be 8 years and 10 months old. (Mayagi et al., 1983)

Behavior

Siberian weasels are nocturnal and crepuscular. With the exception of the association between mothers and their young, these animals are solitary. They maintain territories, although they are known to migrate in times of food shortages. They have been observed moving up to 8 km in a single night. (Nowak, 1999)

Key behaviors:
terricolous; nocturnal ; motile ; sedentary ; solitary ; territorial .

Food Habits

Siberian weasels, like many other members of the genus Mustela, are efficient and ferocious predators. They feed on rice-field rats (Rattus argentiventer) in the coastal areas of southern China. In parts of their range (Nakdong Estuary, Republic of Korea) Siberian weasels may feed on little terns (Sterna albifrons) and their eggs.

In the subtropical forests of Taiwan M. sibirica was found to feed on a variety of small mammals (shrews, rats, mice) and to switch to a more invertebrate diet (including beetles, grubs and other invertebrates) when small mammal populations were low.

They store prey for later consumption, especially for eating during the winter. In times of food shortages, they have been known to make mass migrations

(Xu et al., 1995; Soon-Bok et al., 1998; Wu, 1999; Nowak, 1999)

Primary Diet:
carnivore (eats terrestrial vertebrates, eats eggs, insectivore , eats non-insect arthropods).

Animal Foods:
birds; mammals; eggs; insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods.

Foraging Behaviors:
stores or caches food .

Predation

Known predators

Siberian weasels, like their relatives, are capable of standing up to attackers that are larger than themselves. The primary predators of weasels are probably large raptors, such as owls and hawks.

Ecosystem Roles

Siberian weasels play an important role in controlling rodent and other small mammal populations in the ecosystems in which they live.

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

Siberian weasels sometimes take domestic fowl.

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

As predators, these weasels perform an obvious function in controlling small rodent population. However, in recent years researchers have found the anal-gland secretions of M. sibirica cause rice-field rats (Rattus argentiventer) to go into self-anointing behavior. As a result, Siberian weasels are being introduced into agricultural areas to help control populations of these rats. (Xu, 1995; Zhongjian et al., 1995) They are also important in the fur trade (Nowak, 1999).

Ways that people benefit from these animals:
body parts are source of valuable material; controls pest population.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List: [link]:
Lower Risk - Least Concern.

US Migratory Bird Act: [link]:
No special status.

US Federal List: [link]:
No special status.

CITES: [link]:
Appendix III.

M. sibirica is on CITES Appendix III for populations in India.

Other Comments

Recent studies of mitochondral DNA support the hypothesis that Mustela itatsi and Mustela sibirica (once thought to be the same species) are actually two distinct species. This same study has also revealed that a population of M. sibirica that was indroduced to Japan from Korea may be going through a genetic bottleneck. (Naoko et al., 1998)

Contributors

Jason Kreutzer (author), University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
Chris Yahnke (editor), University of Wisconsin Stevens Point.

References

Gittleman, J. 1985. Carnivore Life History Patterns: Allometric, Phylogenetic, and Ecological Associations. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution.

Hai-Yin, W. 1999. Is There Current Competition between Sympatric Siberian Weasels (*Mustela sibirica*) and Ferret Badgers (*Melogale moschata*) in a Subtropical Forest Ecosystem of Taiwan?. Zoological Studies, 38(4): 443-451.

Honacki, J., K. Kurman, J. Koeppl. 1982. Mammal Species of the World. Lowrence, Kansas: Allan Press.

Hong, S., Y. Woo, S. Higashi. 1998. Effects of Clutch size and Egg-laying Order on the Breeding Success in the Little Tern Sterna Albifrons on the Nakdong Estuary, Republic of Korea.. Ibis, 140(3): 408-414.

Mayagi, K., S. Shiraishi, T. Uchida. 1983. Age Determination in the Yellow Weasel, *Mustela sibirica coreana*. Journal of faculty, Agriculture. Kyushu University, 27(3-4): 100-114.

Nowak, R. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World, Sixth Edition. Baltimore and London: The Johns Hopkins University Press.

Tate, G. 1947. Mammals of Eastern Asia. New York, New York: The Macmillan Company.

Xu, Z., D. Stoddart, H. Ding, J. Zhang. 1995. Self-anointing behavior in the Rice-field rat, *Rattus rattoides*. Journal of Mammalogy, 76(4): 1238-1241.

2008/10/12 10:57:48.804 GMT-4

To cite this page: Kreutzer, J. 2003. "Mustela sibirica" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed October 12, 2008 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Mustela_sibirica.html.

Disclaimer: The Animal Diversity Web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students. ADW doesn't cover all species in the world, nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe. Though we edit our accounts for accuracy, we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts. While ADW staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable, we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control.

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