Order CarnivoraFamily Mustelidae• Large canines

• No diastema• Claws not retractile• Mustelid glands• Short legs

Taxidea taxus

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/ermine.htm

Mustela ermineaBy Julie Perrett

ID: Short tailed weasel with a black tail tip and white feet. Tail is just over 1/3 body length. Males are larger than females.

Summer - dorsum is dark brown, venter is white or yellowish.

Winter - pure white coat with black tail tip

Total – 240-330mmTail – 60-95mmHF – 30-45mmEar – 15-20mm Weight – 60-150g

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Mustela_erminea.html

Mustela erminea

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/ermine.htm

Distribution:

Northern part of Western hemisphere. In Iowa found in Northern half of the state.

Habitat:

Found in a wide variety of habitats; woodlands, shrubby areas, lakes, marshes, rocky outcrops, open areas adjacent to woodlands, along wooded streams, and brushy fencerows.

http://mbgnet.mobot.org/sets/taiga/animals/ermine.htm

Mustela ermineaDiet:

Small mammals, birds, eggs, fish, frogs, invertebrates and young rabbits.

Hunts both day and night.

Mustela erminea

Reproduction: • Promiscuous• Adults are generally solitary with discrete

home ranges. • Den in old rodent burrows, tree roots,

stone walls and hollow logs. • Nests are made out of fur, feathers, and

grass. • Breed in early summer, gestation of 4

weeks. • Average litter of 4 to 8; born in April and

May

Conservation: Not considered endangered or threatened

http://www.nenature.com/Ermine.htm

Mustela erminea

Other: • Lifespan of 1-2 years• Winter pelt prized • Can climb trees and swim• Large energy demands • Prey killed by powerful blow to

the back of neck• Parasitized by a nematode that

destroys sinuses• After mating (summer)

development of embryos doesn’t occur until late winter or early spring (an 8-9 month period)

References

• Jones, J.K Jr. and E.C. Birney.1988. Handbook of Mammals of the North-central States. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis

• Kays, R.W. and D.E. Wilson. 2002. The mammals of North America. Princeton University press, Princeton, New Jersey.

• Bowers, N., Bowers, R. and K. Kaufman. 2004. Mammals of North America. Houghton Mifflin, New York, New York.

• Iowa DNR. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources. 1 November 2004 <http://www.state.ia.us/dnr/organiza/ppd/tespecies.htm>

• Animal Diversity Web. The University of Michigan and the Museum of Zoology. 1 November 2004 <http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/

Mustela_erminea.html>

Mustela frenata

Long-tailed Weasel

Dawn M Goshorn

http://fwp.state.mt.us/FieldGuide/mediaDisplay.aspx?id=5514&elcode=AMAJF02030

Description• Largest weasel in Iowa• Dorsal brown in summer

& white in winter• Black tip on tail• Total length 350-430 mm,

Tail 110-140 mm, hind foot 35-50 mm, ear 15-22 mm and weight 170-240g

• Females are smaller than males

http://pantransit.reptiles.org/images/1998-02-07/long-tailedweasel_06.jpg

www.cmc.org/tour/ ecosystems/alpine_f-f.html

Distribution

• Statewide

• Only occurs in America

• Extends from southern Canada to northern South America

Habitat• Open

brushy areas

• Woodland borders

• Overgrown fence rows

• Usually near water

www.ettrickyarrow.bordernet.co.uk/ scenery/ima...

http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol5/iss1/art9/figure15.jpg

Diet• 90% small mammals (mice, voles, rabbits)• Will attack animals larger than itself• Hunt at any time• Cache food• May climb trees to obtain food

http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/dnr/fur/species/weasel.html

Reproduction• Mates in mid summer• Delayed implantation• Give birth in April or May• Average litter 4-8 young• Den is constructed from the hair of prey

http://www.waldorf.edu/academics/biology/weasel.jpg

Conservation Status

• Uncommon

• Native

www.redpath-museum.mcgill.ca/ Qbp/mammals/Spec...

Other

• Myth: Sucks blood, but this is untrue

• May be taken by trappers but fur is not of great value

• Does not turn white in all areas in southern part of range

http://www.link75.org/bhm/four/libby/libclass4/sd/writ5/Images/Long-tailed-weasel6.jpg

ReferencesBowels John B., Mammals of Iowa. 1975. Texas Tech Press. Lubbock, TX.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Long-tailed weasel. Available at http://www.iowadnr.com/education/files/lgtlweas.pdf. November 2004.

Jones, J.. Knox Jr., and Elmer C. Birney. Handbook of Mammals of the North Central United States. 1988. University of Minnesota Press. Minneapolis, MN.

Kays, Ronald W., and Don E. Wilson. Mammals of North America. 2002. Princeton University Press. Princeton, NJ.

National Wildlife Federation. Mammals: Long-tailed Weasel. Available at http://www.enature.com/fieldguide/showSpeciesSH.asp?curGroupID=5&shapeID=1032&curPageNum=5&recnum=MA0036. November 2004.

Mustela nivalis

(Least weasel)By: Lisa Hinote

Mustela nivalisIdentification: Smallest

weasel; upper body chocolate brown to sandy tan, venter white or yellowish color; patches of brown; tail brown and short, lacking black tip. Winter color is white.

TL: 190-215mm (males), 170-185mm (female)

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/least_weasel.htm

http://www.bozeman.k12.mt.us/wildlife/

Mustela nivalis

Distribution: Statewide

Occurs across North America from Alaska to Maine, and as far south as Georgia

http://wildlife.wisc.edu/courses/301/mammals/maps/images/least_weasel.jpg

Mustela nivalisHabitat: Can survive in a wide variety of habitats,

including open forests, farmlands; prefer marshes, grasslands and shrubby areas and try to avoid deep forests and sandy deserts.

Diet: Carnivores

Voles and mice are most of diet, but also eat insects, small ground nesting birds and their eggs. Have to eat their total body weight daily to survive because of small size and rapid metabolism.

Mustela nivalis

Reproduction: Nests in abandoned rodent burrows of ground cover; produce two or more litters a year; 1-6 young in each litter; young are born naked and blind; female take care of young for about 12-14 weeks. http://

homestudy.ihea.com/wildlifeID/058leastweasel.htm

Mustela nivalisConservation: Found

statewide but uncommon.

Other: Rarely trapped; Inuit had great respect and the capture of one is considered a good omen. Have glands for defense and marking territory. Do not suck blood.

http://www.enature.com/fieldguide/showSpeciesSH.asp?curGroupID=5&shapeID=1032&curPageNum=7&recnum=MA0453

ReferencesAnderson, R. and J. Stephens. 2002. Mustela nivalis (On-line), animal diversity

web. Accessed October 31, 2004 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Mustela_nivalis.html

Bowles, J.B. D.L. Howell, R. P. Lampe, and H.P. Whidden. 1998. Mammals of Iowa: Holocene to the end of the 20th century. Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science 105: 123-132

Bowers, N., and R. Bowers, and K. Kaufman. 2004. Mammals of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company. 120 pp.

Jones, J.K., and E.C. Birney. 1988. Handbook of mammals of the north central states. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis. 258 pp.

May, P. 2004. Mustela nivalis (On-line), nature ca web. Accessed October 31, 2004 at http://www.nature.ca/notebooks/english/lestweas.htm.

Mustela visonAmerican Mink

Family Mustelidae

Mink is a Swedish word for stinking animal

Mustela vison

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Mustela_vison.html

Mustela vison

Description: long weasel-like body with short legs and a pointy flat face. Dark brown, with a white on chin, throat, chest. Pelage is long, soft, thick and glossy; has oily guard on hairs that waterproof the pelage. Hind feet are partially webbed. Anal scent gland.

Size: TL 460-700mm, Tail 185-210mm, Weight 1-1.7kg ( 8-10 grams )Females are ~10% smaller than males.

Distribution:Found throughout the United States, except Arizona. Are in most of Canada, except along the Arctic Coast and some offshore islands.Throughout Iowa

Mustela visonStatus:

Common, Throughout

Habitat:Semi aquatic- prefers lakes, ponds, streams, rivers, marshesand brushy rocky outcroppings.

Diet:Summer-- crayfish, frogs, shrews, rabbits, mice, muskrats, fish, waterfowl.Winter– mainly small mammals.

http://www.arkive.org/species/ARK/mammals/Mustela_vison/ARK014220.html?size=large

Mustela vison

Behavior:

• Mark Territories with secretion from anal scent glands• Nocturnal – mainly dawn and dusk• Skilled swimmers and climbers, able to swim

underwater 30m and dive up to 5m• Dig dens in banks, under tree roots, or abandoned

muskrat houses• Line dens with dried grass, leaves or fur from past prey• Range is linear, following shoreline. Males 2.5-5.5km,

females 0.5-3km

Mustela vison

Reproduction:

Mate in mid to late winter, young are born in April or May

Minks have a delayed implantation, which varies gestation period 40-75 days

A litter of 1-10 young, stay with mother until autumn. May begin mating around 10 months

Life span up to 4 years in wild, 10 years captive

Mustela visonConservation:

Trapping Season Nov. 6, 2004 – Jan. 31, 2004No daily bag limit, No possession limit.

Mid 1960’s there were 7200 Mink ranches, 439 in 1998. 2.94 million pelts$72.9 million

http://www.arkive.org/species/ARK/mammals/Mustela_vison/ARK014387.html?size=medium

Mustela vison

http://www.arkive.org/species/ARK/mammals/Mustela_vison/more_still_images.html

Works Citied

Jones, J. Knox, Jr. and Elmer C. 1988. Birney. Handbook of mammals of the north-central states. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, MN, USA.

Arkive. Nov. 2004. Images of life on Earth. http://www.arkive.org/species/ARK/mammals/Mustela_vison/more_still_images.html.

Canada’s Aquatic Environments. Nov. 2004. http://www.aquatic.uoguelph.ca/mammals/freshwater/accounts/mink.htm.

Iowa DNR webpage. Nov. 2004. http://www.iowadnr.com/.University of Michigan museum of zoology. Nov. 2004. Animal

diversity web. http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Mustela_vison.html.

Eastern Spotted SkunkSpilogale putorius

Kristin Myers

http://www.nsrl.ttu.edu/tmot1/spilputo.htm

ID: Black with horizontal white stripes on neck and shoulders; irregular vertical stripes and elongated spots on sides; white spots on top of head; white tip on tail. Virtually identical to the Western Spotted but can be distinguished by range.

http://www.eduscapes.com/nature/skunk/index1.htmhttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/profiles/photos/nt/nt0211aS.html

Eastern Western

http://www.eduscapes.com/nature/skunk/index1.htm

Habitat: Mixed woodlands and open areas, scrub and farmland

Distribution: statewide

Status: common

Diet: Omnivorous; small mammals, grubs, insects, corn, berries

Reproduction: 1 litter of 2-6 April-May born in a woodchuck burrow, a hollow log, under a foundation or any other protected place

http://www.entm.purdue.edu/Wildlife/skunk_pictures.htm

http://www.death-valley.us/article48.html

Other: Spotted skunks are the most agile of all skunks and can bound and climb trees with ease.

Even skunks themselves cannot stand their odor.

http://www.entm.purdue.edu/Wildlife/skunk_pictures.htm

References• http://www.enature.com/fieldguide/showSpeciesSH.asp?curGr

oupID=5&shapeID=1032&curPageNum=14&recnum=MA0039

• http://www.nsrl.ttu.edu/tmot1/spilputo.htm

• http://www.eduscapes.com/nature/skunk/index1.htm

• http://www.entm.purdue.edu/Wildlife/skunk_pictures.htm

• http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/profiles/photos/nt/nt0211aS.html

• http://www.death-valley.us/article48.html

The Striped SkunkOrder: Carnivora

Family: MustelidaeGenus Species: Mephitis mephitis

By: Leslie Reed

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu

Mephitis mephitis

• Identification: Large, robust. Black body w/ white patch on forehead and two white stripes down back; white hairs in bushy tail. Color variable. Ears short, rounded; eyes small. Compare to Eastern Spotted Skunk.

• TL= 620-790 mm (females smaller) 3-11 lbs.

• Distribution: Statewide

http://www.nsrl.ttu.edu

http://www.ukans.edhttp://www.ukans.eduu

Mephitis mephitis

• Habitat: Anywhere shelter is available: woodland edge and brushy areas, fields, agri. areas, neighborhoods; close to water. Avoids deep woods, marshy areas

• Dens made in natural cavities, abandoned burrows

• Many females in winter; males solitary

• Home range: 40-1,000+ acres• Do not hibernate; less active

though

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu

Mephitis mephitis

• Diet: Omnivorous: small mammals, birds, insects, invertebrates, carrion, eggs, berries, amphibians

• Reproduction: Breeding takes place in late winter (Feb). Gestation: avg. 2 mo. Single litter of 4-11 kittens born in spring (May). May stay w/ family up to 1 yr.

• Lifespan: 3 years• Males are polygamous and only meet w/

females to breed

• Conservation Status: Abundant and stable

http://chrisinorl.home.att.net

Mephitis mephitis

• Other: • “Mephitis” means “bad odor”

• Typically raise tail and stomp front feet before spraying (up to 12 ft!) Can smell up to 1 mile away

• Odor is less offensive than Spotted Skunk

• Primarily nocturnal, but may be seen during the day

http://chrisinorl.home.att.net

Mephitis mephitis

Other (continued)• Predators: raptors (esp. GHO), larger carnivores, humans

• High number killed on roads and farms

• Valuable fur animal

– Pelts: $2.00, but tremendous amounts taken

• Some economic importance

– Rarely eats poultry or destroys crops; controls rodent & insect population

– Musk, odor removed, used in perfumes

• Highly parasitized and can carry rabies and distemper

ANY QUESTIONS??

References: Mephitis mephitis• Jones, J.K, Jr. and E.C. Birney. 1988. Handbook of Mammals of the North-central States. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis.

• Kays, R.W. and D.E. Wilson. 2002. The Mammals of North America. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey.

• Burt, W.H. and R.P. Grossenheider. 1980. The Peterson Field Guide to Mammals. Houghton Mifflin Company, New York, NY.

• Davis, W.B and D.J. Schmidly, 1997. “The Striped Skunk” (On-line), The Mammals Of Texas. Accessed November 01, 2004 at http://www.nsrl.ttu.edu/tmot1/mephmeph.htm.

• Forseth, Alan, 1995. “Striped Skunk” (On-line), bcadventure.com. Accessed November 01, 2004 at http://www.fishbc.com/adventure/wilderness/animals/skunk.htm.

• The Georgia Museum of Natural History and Georgia Department of Natural Resources, 2000. “Skunk” (On-line), Georgia Wildlife Web. Accessed November 01, 2004 at http://museum.nhm.uga.edu/gawildlife/mammals/Carnivora/Mustelidae/mmephitis.html.

• Wilke, C. 2001. "Mephitis mephitis" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed November 02, 2004 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Mephitis_mephitis.html.

American Badger

Family: Mustelidae

Taxidea taxus

Charles Weyer

A Ecol 364

Fall 2004

Taxidea taxus

Identification

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/graphics/badger2a.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/americanbadger.htm&h=250&w=382&sz=26&tbnid=5qac6_Eo6q0J:&tbnh=77&tbnw=117&start=16&prev=/images%3Fq%3DAmerican%2BBadger%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26output%3Dsearch%26sa%3DG

• Short powerful legs

• Short tail

• Claws long and curved for digging

• Shaggy dorsal pelage

• Ventral yellowish white

• Medial white strip on face

• Black “badges” on sides of face

• TL 60-78cm, 3.6-11.4 kg

Taxidea taxus

Distribution

• Western North America from Mexico to Canada

• Fairly common in Iowa in suitable habitats

• Not endangered or threatened in Iowa or federally.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/kootenay/images/badger_subspp_map.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/kootenay/natcul/natcul30_e.asp&h=354&w=350&sz=38&tbnid=A3U4H-rXx0oJ:&tbnh=116&tbnw=115&start=11&prev=/images%3Fq%3DAmerican%2BBadger%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26output%3Dsearch

Taxidea taxus

Habitat

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.ribbitphotography.com/mammals/images/badger.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.ribbitphotography.com/mammals/photo_pages/006013.html&h=256&w=384&sz=44&tbnid=BKnUSVZGAJMJ:&tbnh=79&tbnw=118&start=30&prev=/images%3Fq%3DAmerican%2BBadger%26start%3D20%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26output%3Dsearch%26sa%3DN

• Open areas, plains, prairies, farmland, and edges of woods

• Have multiple dens for sleeping, breeding, and storage

• Single entrance marked by dirt pile

Taxidea taxusReproduction

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/resources/phil_myers/ADW_mammals_3_4_03/badgerburrow.jpg/medium.jpg&imgrefurl=http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/resources/phil_myers/ADW_mammals_3_4_03/badgerburrow.jpg/view.html&h=480&w=630&sz=99&tbnid=xBhWAmEnTtMJ:&tbnh=102&tbnw=133&start=69&prev=/images%3Fq%3DAmerican%2BBadger%26start%3D60%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26output%3Dsearch%26sa%3DN

• Mating in July and August

• Only time not solitary

• Embryo in arrested development till December

• Single litter with 1-5 young in March or April

• Mature in a year

Taxidea taxusDiet

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.bigdarby.org/Media/iMamBadger.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.bigdarby.org/sMammals.htm&h=131&w=131&sz=19&tbnid=AhWThR1GZhgJ:&tbnh=86&tbnw=86&start=195&prev=/images%3Fq%3DAmerican%2BBadger%26start%3D180%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D

%26output%3Dsearch%26sa%3DN

• Carnivore

• Small vertebrates, rodents, carrion, fish, snakes, and insects

• Sometimes cache food

• Tunnels after most of its prey

Taxidea taxus

Random

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.valleylandfund.com/2000winners/images/2h5.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.valleylandfund.com/2000winners/enlargements/2H5.shtml&h=288&w=432&sz=35&tbnid=z6R45Csd240J:&tbnh=82&tbnw=123&start=96&prev=/images%3Fq%3DAmerican%2BBadger%26start%3D80%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D

%26sa%3DN

• Torpor not hibernation

• Active day and night

• Pest species to ranchers

• Humans are worst predator

References

• Jones, Knox J. and Elmer C. Birney. Handbook of Mammals of the North-Central States. University of Minnesota Press. Minneapolis, MN. 1988

• New Hampshire Public Television. American Badger. Retrieved from: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Taxidea_taxus.html, accessed on 11/03/04. Last Update Unknown.

• Shefferly, Nancy. Animal Diversity Web. Taxidea taxus. Retrieved from: http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/americanbadger.htm#1, accessed on 11/03/04. Last updated 2004.