They belong to the mustelid family of the order Carnivora. Kuznetsov B.A. Key to vertebrate animals of the fauna of the USSR. mammals. class mammals. squad of predators. mustelid family. genus of sea otters. genus of otter. genus of honey badger. genus badgers. wolverine genus. genus of marten. genus translation

The mustelid family includes a large and diverse group of predatory mammals in terms of adaptations. This includes animals such as sable, badger, otter, ferret, and skunk. True seals evolved from common terrestrial ancestors with mustelids. In total, there are more than 70 species in the mustelid family; in the fauna of Russia there are 17-18 species.

Representatives of the mustelid family are most often small, elongated animals. Weasel is the smallest representative of the order of carnivores, weighing no more than 200 g, while the largest sea otter among mustelids weighs up to 40 kg. On a long muscular neck sits a small head with short rounded ears: they rightly say about small mustelids - where the head goes, so does the body. The limbs are shortened, usually plantigrade.

The fur is most often fluffy and thick, especially in otters living in water; Badgers, on the contrary, have hard and sparse fur. The color of mustelids is usually uniform brown, but can have a contrasting pattern of dark and light spots and stripes. Some small inhabitants of northern latitudes (weasel, ermine) change their dark fur coat to white for the winter. Two-color - the so-called demonstration - coloration is usually combined with the strong development of odorous anal glands.

Mustelids are distributed almost all over the world: they have colonized forests, deserts and mountains, and live in freshwater bodies and on sea coasts. These are mainly terrestrial animals. Among mustelids there are semi-aquatic animals - otter, sea otter. Representatives of the mustelid family often live alone, they are territorial and are not prone to long-distance migrations. Shelters are usually burrows that the animals “borrow” from the victims they eat or dig themselves, sometimes complex, perennial ones; arboreal inhabitants take refuge in hollows. Badgers living in the northern forests go into hibernation for the winter.

Most mustelids are predators, feeding almost exclusively on small rodents and birds, others are omnivores; Semi-aquatic animals prefer fish. Based on their habits, there are two main types of mustelids. Some of them are very mobile, nimble, move in short jumps with a strongly curved back, or seem to “spread” along the ground among thick grass. These are small animals like an ermine or a ferret; otter has similar behavior. They are active hunters, stalking prey in its hiding places or catching it in the water.

Mustelids navigate mainly by hearing; their sense of smell and vision are less developed. The general level of mental activity is lower than that of canids and bears: among mustelids there are few species that can be trained.

The reproduction of mustelids is characterized by a very extended gestation period: in some martens it lasts up to a year. This is caused by delayed embryonic development, the causes of which are still unknown. Cubs in a litter range from 1-2 (for sea otters) to 16-18. According to the nature of their development, mustelids, like all carnivores, belong to the “chicken” type. But some species exhibit a “following reflex” characteristic of the “brood” type: cubs at a certain age relentlessly follow the female or the object that they have “imprinted” as the mother.

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There are many species of animals in the mustelidae family. Sometimes they are so different from each other that it is difficult to believe in their relationship. Mustelids include the tiny graceful ermine and the clumsy large wolverine, the steppe-dwelling black-footed ferret and the seafaring sea otter, the steeplejack marten and the underground city builder badger. An elongated flexible body and short legs are the main similarities of all mustelids.

Pine marten

The central figure of the family is the European pine marten. This is the most dexterous poison dart frog in the family. The marten hunts birds and squirrels in the treetops, and “rides,” that is, moves by jumping from tree to tree. The American marten is just as agile. Living in the cold northern forests, martens are dressed in thick and valuable fur.

The most valuable fur-bearing animal is our taiga resident, the sable. The sable, although it climbs trees well, stays mainly on the ground and hunts mice and voles, supplementing its meat menu with pine nuts. To the south of these mustelids, the stone marten lives in Eurasia. She has adapted to close proximity to humans and, in times of famine, visits chicken coops to steal chickens. It also helps people by destroying rodent pests in the fields.

In North America, a large fishing marten (pecan) lives in forests, among rocks and along river banks. Despite its name, this marten does not fish very often, preferring to hunt a variety of rodents, including the large American tree porcupine. Martens are such skilled hunters that they can easily cope with prey larger than themselves. Thus, the Asian marten Kharza, found from the cold forests of our Primorye to the jungles of Southeast Asia, is capable of defeating a young wild boar, a fawn, and a musk deer - a small deer.

Mink

European and American minks, similar to martens, are ground hunters. A long flexible body spreads along the ground, hiding the predator in snowdrifts or grass. Prey for minks and smaller inhabitants of the Asian forests of kosnikov - mice, voles, chipmunks, muskrats, squirrels, birds, frogs. Minks and Siberians are excellent fishermen: having spotted fish from the shore, they dive under the water for it. In winter, fish is their main food.

Weasel and ermine

The weasel family also includes the smallest predators, the weasel and the stoat. The lizards themselves are slightly larger, they can easily cope with mice and even rabbits. There is no escape for the victims from the nimble pursuers who seep even into their narrow holes. By destroying rodents, stoats and weasels protect the harvest. Occupying the same ecological niche of small terrestrial predators, weasels and stoats do not live side by side. Weasels live slightly south of ermines, although they are no worse adapted to snow and frost: both species have warm, valuable fur, reddish in summer, white in winter.

Tyra and grison

Large martens, the tayra and the grison, live in the tropics of North and South America. Tyra runs fast, deftly climbs trees and is an excellent swimmer. Its prey is much larger than the prey of arboreal raccoons living in the same places. Taira hunts large agouti rodents, squirrels and possums (arboreal marsupials), and can even defeat a small mazama deer. The grison is smaller than the tayra - it has a very long and flexible body on short legs. It hunts rodents on the ground and lives in burrows.

Ferret

Ferrets are close to martens and minks. A ferret and a mink can even start a family and give birth to healthy babies; a cross between a ferret and a mink is called honoriki. Forest ferrets are found in the European part of our country: on forest edges, near rivers and even in city parks. They hide in piles of dead wood, under roots, in other people's empty holes, they settle in barns, attics, woodpiles, and stacks.

Previously, when cats were a curiosity in Rus', peasants kept ferrets at home so that they would destroy mice and rats. In the southern steppes, the forest polecat is adjacent to a larger brother - the steppe polecat. This is a valuable fur-bearing animal, but people, given its contribution to the destruction of rodents, have limited their hunting. Black-footed ferrets used to live in the American steppes and prairies. They hunted prairie dogs - rodents similar to gophers. But farmers, exterminating prairie dogs, also exterminated ferrets. Now they are bred in captivity.

Man is unfair to the ferret: this animal does more good than harm, because its main prey is voles and mice. Harmful rodents not only eat grain in the fields, but also make supplies for the winter, stuffing up to half a kilogram of seeds into underground storerooms. One ferret hunting in a field destroys 10-12 rodents per day, thus saving about a ton of grain over the summer.

Skunks live in American forests, steppes and deserts. They look like ferrets, but are related to badgers. During the day, skunks sleep in holes and caves, and at night they catch insects, mice, frogs, and other small animals, look for fruits and seeds, and feast on garbage in villages. When in danger, the skunk bristles its fur, turns its back to the offender and raises its tail. If the threat has no effect, the skunk stands on its front legs, raising its butt, and throws a stream of stinking liquid at the enemy. Bright black and white fur warns predators from afar: “Don’t touch me, I’m stinky!” Striped and spotted skunks live in North America, and Patagonian skunks live in South America. Skunks living in cold regions go into hibernation for the winter, gathering several animals in one hole.

The bandage, African weasel and zorilla are taxonomically closer to ferrets, but similar to skunks. The contrasting coloring alerts predators to their ability to defend themselves by shooting out a foul-smelling liquid. These hunters of jerboas, gophers, hamsters and other small animals live in the steppes and deserts: the bandage - in the south of Eurasia, the African weasel and zorilla - in Africa.

Ferrets and skunks are small animals. In order not to become prey to larger predators, they chose an original method of defense: to discourage their enemies' appetite with stench. Ferrets simply secrete a disgusting-smelling liquid from glands under their tail, and skunks can shoot a stream of this stinking and caustic liquid into the predator’s face at a distance of up to 3 m. A smeared and blinded enemy will forever remember the meeting with the stinky and will henceforth avoid it. Once the stink glands are removed, the skunk can be kept as a pet.

The marten is a fast and cunning predator, capable of easily overcoming numerous obstacles, climbing steep trunks and moving along tree branches. Of particular value is its beautiful yellowish-chocolate fur.

Description of the marten

This is a fairly large animal. The marten's habitats are coniferous and mixed forests, in which there are sufficient numbers of old hollow trees and impenetrable thickets of bushes. It is in such places that the marten can easily get food and find shelters, which it arranges in hollows at altitude.

This is interesting! The marten can quickly climb trees and even jump from one branch to another, using its luxurious tail as a parachute. She swims and runs excellently (including through a snowy forest, since the thick edges on her paws prevent the animal from falling deep into the snow).

Thanks to its speed, strength and agility, this animal is an excellent hunter. Its prey is usually small animals, birds and amphibians, and in pursuit of a squirrel, the marten is capable of making huge jumps along tree branches. The marten often destroys bird nests. Not only ground-based birds suffer from its attacks, but also birds that build their nests high in the trees. It should also be noted that the marten benefits humans by regulating the rodent population in its habitat.

Appearance

The marten has a lush and beautiful coat, which is much silkier in winter than in summer. Its color can have different shades of brown (chocolate, chestnut, brown). The back of the animal is grayish-brown, and the sides are much lighter. A rounded spot of bright yellow color is clearly visible on the breast, which is much brighter in summer than in winter.

The marten's paws are quite short, with five fingers, on which there are sharp claws. The muzzle is pointed, with short triangular ears, edged with yellow fur. The marten's body is squat and has an elongated shape, and the adult size is about half a meter. The weight of males is larger than that of females and rarely exceeds 2 kilograms.

Lifestyle

The physique of an animal directly affects its lifestyle and habits. The marten moves mainly by jumping. The flexible, slender body of the animal allows it to move with lightning speed in the branches, appearing only for a second in the gaps of pines and spruces. The marten likes to live high in the treetops. With the help of her claws, she is able to climb even the smoothest and most even trunks.

This is interesting! This animal most often chooses a diurnal lifestyle. It spends most of its time in trees or hunting. He tries to avoid the person in every possible way.

The marten makes its nest in hollows at a height of more than 10 meters or in the crown of trees. It becomes very attached to its favorite areas and does not leave them even if there is some shortage of food. Despite such a sedentary lifestyle, these representatives of the mustelid family can migrate after squirrels, which sometimes migrate en masse over considerable distances.

Among the areas of the forest where martens live, two types of areas can be distinguished: passage areas, where they practically never visit, and “hunting grounds,” where they spend almost all their time. In the warm season, these animals choose a small area that is as rich in food as possible and try not to leave it. In winter, the lack of food pushes them to expand their land and actively place markers along their routes.

Types of martens

Martens are predators belonging to the mustelidae family. There are several species of these animals, with slight differences in appearance and habits, which is due to their different habitats:

This is a fairly rare and little-studied species of animal. Externally, the American marten is similar to the pine marten. Its color can vary from yellowish to chocolate shades. The chest is light yellow in color, and the paws can be almost black. The habits of this representative of the mustelid family have not yet been fully studied, since the American marten prefers to hunt exclusively at night and avoids people in every possible way.

Quite a large species of marten. The length of its body together with the tail in some individuals reaches one meter, and its weight is 4 kilograms. The coat is dark, mostly brown. In summer, the fur is quite hard, but by winter it becomes softer and longer, and a noble silvery tint appears on it. Ilka hunts squirrels, hares, mice, arboreal porcupines and birds. Loves to eat fruits and berries. These representatives of the mustelid family can easily pursue prey not only underground, but also high in the trees.

The main area of ​​its distribution is the territory of Europe. The stone marten often settles not far from human habitation, which is extremely uncharacteristic for representatives of the mustelid family. The fur of this species of animal is quite hard, gray-brown in color. He has an oblong light area on his neck. Characteristic features of the stone marten are a light nose and feet devoid of edges. The main prey of this species are small rodents, frogs, lizards, birds and insects. In summer, they can eat plant foods. They can attack domestic chickens and rabbits. It is this species that most often becomes the object of hunting and extraction of valuable fur.

Its habitat is the forests of the European Plain and some parts of Asia. The animal is brown in color with a pronounced yellow spot on the throat. The pine marten is an omnivore, but the bulk of its diet consists of meat. It hunts mainly for squirrels, voles, amphibians and birds. Can feed on carrion. In the warm season, it eats fruits, berries and nuts.

This representative of the mustelid family has such an unusual color that many consider this animal to be an independent species. - a fairly large animal. The body length (including tail) sometimes exceeds one meter, and the weight of individual specimens can be 6 kilograms. The wool has a beautiful shine. It hunts mainly squirrels, sables, chipmunks, raccoon dogs, hares, birds and rodents. Can diversify its diet with insects or frogs. There have been cases of harza attacks on elk, deer, and wild boar cubs. She also eats nuts, berries and wild honey.

Quite a large representative of the family. Its length reaches one meter, and its weight reaches 2.5 kilograms. The habits and lifestyle of the Nilgiri harza have been studied rather poorly. It is believed that the animal prefers a diurnal lifestyle and lives mainly in trees. Scientists admit that during the hunt the animal sinks to the ground, like other types of martens. Some eyewitnesses claim that they witnessed this animal hunting birds and squirrels.

How long does a marten live?

The life expectancy of martens under favorable conditions can reach 15 years, but in the wild they live much shorter. This animal has many competitors in terms of food production - all medium and large predatory forest inhabitants. However, there are no enemies that pose a serious threat to the marten population in nature.

In certain areas, the number of animals depends on spring floods (which kill a significant part of the rodents, which are one of the main components of the marten’s diet) and constant deforestation (the destruction of old forests can eventually lead to the complete disappearance of these animals).

Range, habitats

The life of a marten is closely connected with the forest. Most often it can be found in spruce, pine or other coniferous forests. In the northern regions the habitat is spruce or fir, and in the southern regions there are spruce or mixed forests.

For permanent residence, she chooses forests rich in windbreaks, old tall trees, large edges, as well as an abundance of clearings with young undergrowth.

The marten can choose flat areas and mountain forests, where it lives in the valleys of large rivers and streams. Some species of this animal prefer rocky areas and stone placers. Most of these representatives of mustelids try to avoid human habitats. The exception is the stone marten, which can settle directly near human settlements.

This is interesting! Unlike other members of the family, for example, sables (living only in Siberia), the marten is distributed throughout almost the entire European territory, right up to the Ural Mountains and the Ob River.

CLASS MAMMALS

SUBCLASS PLACENTAL MAMMALS

PREDATORY SQUAD

FAMILY MUSNEA

The animals are medium or small in size, usually with an elongated body on short plantigrade or semi-plantigrade legs. In species biologically associated with bodies of water, there is a swimming membrane between the toes, and sometimes the paws are turned into flippers. The claws are not retractable. The tail is well developed, of different lengths. The skull is slightly flattened, with a short facial part. The number of teeth ranges from 28 to. 38.

TABLE FOR DETERMINING GENERUS OF THE MUSNID FAMILY

1(2) The hind limbs look like flippers. The toes of the front legs are fused. The fifth toe of the hind legs is the longest (Fig. 106). The lower jaw has only 2 incisors on each side. The molars are blunt-tubercular. The length of the skull is almost equal to its zygomatic width.

Sea otters

Rice. 106. Front (top - a and bottom - b) and rear (c) paws of a sea otter

2(1) The hind limbs do not have the appearance of flippers. The toes of all feet are separate (sometimes connected by a thin swimming membrane). The fifth toe of the hind legs is shorter than the middle ones. There are 3 incisors on each side of the lower jaw. Molars with sharp or blunt cusps. The length of the skull is significantly greater than its zygomatic width.

3(4) The toes of the front and hind legs are connected by a thin, bare swimming membrane, which on the hind legs extends to the ends of the toes. The tail is thick, muscular, conical, gradually tapering towards the end. It is covered with the same hair as the body. There are 4 anterior teeth on each side in the upper jaw and 3 on each side in the lower jaw. The skull is flattened.

Otters

4(3) The toes of the front and hind legs are not connected by a swimming membrane, or such a membrane is rudimentary, connects only the bases of the toes and is covered with hair. The tail is of a different shape. The hair covering it differs sharply from the fur of the back. There are 3 or 4 anterior teeth on each side in the upper and lower jaw. The skull is not flattened.

5(6) Auricles are absent. The top of the body and head are whitish. The underparts are black. The lower jaw has 4 molars on each side.

Honey badgers

6(5) The ears are well developed. The upper body is not whitish. There are 5-6 molars on each side of the lower jaw.

7(8) On the sides of the head from the nose to the ears there are pronounced black or black-brown stripes. The upperparts are grey, the underparts are blackish. The body is massive. The crown of the first posterior tooth of the upper jaw is 2-3 times larger than the crown of the carnassial tooth: its longitudinal and transverse diameters are almost equal (Fig. 107, a).

Badgers

8(7) There are no black stripes on the sides of the head. The coloring is different. The body is elongated. The crown of the first posterior tooth of the upper jaw is smaller or slightly larger than the crown of the carnassial tooth: its longitudinal diameter is significantly less than the transverse one (Fig. 107, b).

Rice. 107. Molars of the upper jaw of a badger (a) and a kharza (b)):
1 - carnassial tooth; 2 - first posterior tooth

9(10) The size of the animal is large: body length is more than 75 cm. The color is brown or brown with lighter stripes running from the head along the sides of the body to the tail. The skull is large and massive: its condylobasal length is more than 110 mm. The axes of the carnassial teeth of the upper jaw are approximately parallel to each other (Fig. 108, a).

Wolverines

Rice. 108. Skulls of wolverine (a) and kharza (b):
I and II - axes of the dentition

10(9) Smaller sizes: body length up to 75 cm. Different coloring. Condylobasal length of the skull is less than 110 mm. The axes of the carnassial teeth of the upper jaw diverge somewhat posteriorly (Fig. 108, b).

11(12) The upper lip and the end of the muzzle are brown or brown. Ear length more than 35 mm. The auricle is triangular in shape. There is a light spot on the chest. Condylobasal length of the skull is more than 71 mm. There are 5 molars in the upper jaw and 6 in the lower jaw on each side.

Martens

12(11) The upper lip and end of the muzzle are white (only in the American mink acclimatized in the USSR are they brown). The auricle is small and round; its length is no more than 35 mm. There is usually no light spot on the chest. Condylobasal length of the skull is less than 71 mm. There are 4 molars in the upper jaw and 5 in the lower jaw on each side.

13(14) The back is brown with a pattern of small yellowish spots and stripes. There is an additional apex on the inner side of the lower carnassial tooth (Fig. 109).

Dressings

Rice. 109. Carnivorous tooth of the lower jaw dressing:
1 - additional vertex

14(13) The back is of a different color. There is no additional apex on the inner side of the lower carnassial tooth.

Weasels

GENUS SEA OTTERS

The only kind.

Sea otter

(Kuril and Commander Islands, off the coast of Kamchatka. An inhabitant of the sea coast, spending most of the time in the sea. Very nomadic. Pregnancy lasts 8-9 months. The female gives birth to 1, rarely 2 cubs on the coastal rocks, but soon goes to sea with the newborn. Feeds on sea urchins and stars, shellfish, fish, crabs. Fur is highly valued. Harvesting is prohibited to restore stocks.)

KIND OF OTTER

There is one species in the fauna of the Soviet Union.

Otter

(Almost the entire territory of the USSR, except for desert areas. Lives along the banks of rivers, lakes and seas in burrows. In the spring, females give birth to 2-5 cubs. Sexual maturity occurs in the 2-3rd year of life. Feeds on fish, frogs, crayfish, small animals Valuable fur-bearing animal.)

GENUS OF HONEY EATER

There is only one species in the fauna of our country.

Honey badger

(Turkmenistan. Rare animal of our fauna. Lives in desert mountains and foothills and among hilly sands. Lives in burrows. Nocturnal animal. Reproduction has not been studied. Feeds on small animals, lizards, insects, fruits.)

KIND OF BADGERS

There is only one species in the fauna of the USSR.

Badger

(The southern and middle zone of the country to the north to the Karelian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, the Komi Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, the Northern Urals, the Podkamennaya Tunguska basin, the Vilyuya River valley, the mouth of the Amur River. Inhabits a wide variety of lands, both on the plain and in the mountains. Lives in burrows. Nocturnal animal. Hibernates for the winter. In the spring, females, after a 9-12 month pregnancy, give birth to 2-6 cubs. Become sexually mature in the 2-3rd year. Feeds on small mammals, insects, amphibians, reptiles, worms, berries, fruits. Provides valuable hair and fat.)

KIND OF WOLVERINE

The only kind.

Wolverine

(Forest belt of the USSR from Karelia to Kamchatka. Inhabitant of taiga forests, enters the tundra. Makes a den under a rock, under a fallen tree, in a windfall. Does not hibernate in winter. Young, in the amount of 1-4, appear in the den in February - April. Feeds on animal corpses and independently hunts small and medium-sized animals, birds, and amphibians. Fur is of little value.)

GENUS OF MARTEN

There are 4 species in the fauna of the USSR.

TABLE FOR IDENTIFYING SPECIES OF THE GENUS OF MARTENS

1(6) The entire back is one color - sand, brown or brown. The length of the tail without hair is no more than 1/2 the length of the body. The tail is bushy. Body length no more than 60 cm. Condylobasal length of the skull up to 100 mm (subgenus Martes).

2(3) Length of tail with terminal hairs usually less than 1/2 body length. The end of the tail barely protrudes beyond the ends of the hind legs extended back. The throat spot has unclear, seemingly blurred boundaries or has the appearance of a small orange star (Fig. 110, a). The top of the head is usually lighter than the back. The distance between the tympanic chambers of the skull in the area of ​​the openings of the carotid arteries is no more than 1/2 the length of these chambers (Fig. 111, a).

Sable

(Northern Urals, taiga zone of Siberia and the Far East. A characteristic taiga animal. Lives in hollows, in windfalls, among placers of stones. The rut takes place in June - July. Pregnancy lasts 253-297 days. In April - May, females give birth to 2-7 cubs. Feeds on small animals, birds, insects, berries, pine nuts. Fur is very valuable. An important object of the fur trade.)

Rice. 110. Throat spots and tails of sable (a), pine marten (b) and stone marten (c)

3(2) The length of the tail with tip hairs is more than 1/2 the length of the body. The end of the tail protrudes significantly beyond the ends of the hind legs extended back. The throat spot is large, sharply limited (Fig. 110, b, c). The top of the head is the same color as the back. The distance between the tympanic chambers of the skull in the area of ​​the openings of the carotid arteries is more than 1/2 the length of these chambers (Fig. 111, b, c).

Rice. 111. The back of the skull (bottom) of a sable (a), a pine marten (b) and a stone marten (c) :
1 - auditory drums

4(5) The throat patch is usually pure white; at the back it bifurcates and descends to the front surfaces of the legs (Fig. 110, c). The length of the tail with hair is more than 55% of the body length, its color is noticeably darker than the color of the back. The fingertips are almost bare. The third anterior root tooth of the upper jaw without a clearly defined protrusion on the inner side (Fig. 112, b).

Stone marten

(Baltic states, Belarus, Ukraine, Caucasus, Central Asia, Altai. More common in mountainous regions. Settles in forests, rocks and mountain gorges, in thickets of bushes, parks, human buildings. Lives in hollows, rock crevices, between placer stones, on attics. Rutting in June - July. Pregnancy lasts 8-9 months. In spring, females give birth to 1-8 cubs. Feeds on small vertebrates, insects, berries, fruits. Valuable fur-bearing animal.)

Rice. 112. Molars of the upper jaw of forest (a) and stone (b) martens;
1 - fourth anterior tooth

5(4) Throat patch usually yellow or orange; at the back it continues like a wedge between the front legs (Fig. 110, b). Length of tail with hair less than 55% of body length. The color of the tail differs little from the color of the back. The fingertips are covered with hair in winter. The third anterior root tooth of the upper jaw with a protrusion on the inner side (Fig. 112, a).

Marten

(Forest and forest-steppe zones of the European part of the USSR, the Urals and Trans-Urals, the Caucasus. Lives in forests of various types. Lives in hollows, nests of squirrels and large birds, among windbreaks. Roams most of the year. Rutting in the summer. Duration of pregnancy is 230-270 days. In litter of 2-8 cubs. Feeds on small vertebrates, insects, berries. High quality fur.)

6(1) The front of the back is yellow, the back is blackish, the tail is black. The length of the tail without hair is more than 1/2 the length of the body. Body length more than 60 cm. Condylobasal length of the skull more than 100 mm (subgenus Charonia).

Kharza

(Amur region and Primorye. Found mainly in mountain forests. Mating in summer. In spring, females give birth to 2-4 cubs. Feeds on various mammals and birds up to the size of musk deer and wood grouse. The value of the skin is low.)

TYPE OF DRESSING

Only one kind.

Dressing

(Steppes and deserts from Ukraine to Western Siberia and Central Asia. Lives in minks. Young, 4-14, will be born in March-April. Eats small rodents, birds, lizards. The skin is of little value.)

KIND OF WEASEL

There are 8 species in the fauna of the USSR.

TABLE FOR IDENTIFYING SPECIES OF THE GENUS WEASKS

1(4) Winter fur is usually white (the end of the tail is sometimes black). Summer hair (and winter hair in southern forms) is brown on the back and white or yellow on the belly; the boundary between the dark color of the back and the light color of the belly is sharp and linear. The transverse diameter of the infraorbital foramen is equal to the longitudinal diameter of the socket of the upper canine or greater than it (Fig. 113, a, b) (subgenus Mustela).

Rice. 113. Skulls (front) of an ermine (a), a weasel (b), a weasel (c) and a solongoi (d):
1 - infraorbital openings

2(3) The color of the tail is usually white in winter, brown in summer (and in southern specimens also in winter); sometimes there is a little black hair at the very tip. Tail with hair shorter than 1/2 body length. The width of the skull above the canines is approximately equal to the width of the interorbital space. The transverse diameter of the infraorbital foramen is equal to the longitudinal diameter of the canine alveolus (Fig. 113, b).

Weasel

(Almost the entire territory of the USSR. Inhabits a wide variety of lands. Females in the spring give birth to 3-12 young. Feeds mainly on small rodents, benefiting agriculture.)

3(2) In both summer and winter, the final third or half of the tail is black or black-brown. The length of the tail with hair is equal to or more than 1/2 the length of the body. The width of the skull above the canines is noticeably less than the width of the interorbital space. The transverse diameter of the infraorbital foramen is greater than the longitudinal diameter of the canine alveolus (Fig. 113, a).

Ermine

(The entire territory of the USSR, except for the deserts of Central Asia, Transcaucasia and Crimea. Inhabits a wide variety of lands, but is more numerous in the floodplains of rivers. Lives in minks and various temporary shelters. In the spring, females give birth to 3-14 cubs. In winter, the fur usually turns white. Feeds small animals, birds, amphibians, fish, insects, berries, carrion. Valuable fur-bearing animal.)

4(1) Color is different. The coloration of the back and belly are not sharply separated from each other, but gradually transform into one another. The transverse diameter of the infraorbital foramen is less than the longitudinal diameter of the canine alveolus (Fig. 113, c, d).

5(8) The color of the whole body is bright red, brownish-red or sandy. The inner edges of the auditory drums extend more or less parallel to each other (Fig. 114, a) (subgenus Colonocus).

Rice. 114. Back of the skull column (a) and ferret (b) (bottom):
1 - auditory drums

6(7) The body length of adult individuals is more than 26 cm. The lips and chin are pure white, their color is sharply demarcated from the color of neighboring parts of the head. The condylobasal length of the skull in males is more than 55 mm, and in females more than 50 mm.

Columns

(Ural, Siberia, Primorye, Far East, except Kamchatka. Found in forests, floodplains, among scattered stones in the mountains, in forest groves in the forest-steppe, near villages. Lives in burrows, sometimes in hollows. Rutting in early spring. Pregnancy lasts about 1 month. Litter contains 2-10 cubs. Feeds on small vertebrates, insects, berries. Produces a good fur coat.)

7(6) Body length less than 26 cm. Lips and chin are whitish, their color gradually turns into the sandy color of neighboring parts of the head. The condylobasal length of the skull in males is less than 55 mm, in females less than 50 mm.

Solonga

(Pamir, Tien Shan, mountains of Eastern Kazakhstan, Southern Siberia, southern part of the Far East. Lives among scattering stones on mountain slopes, in mountain forests, floodplains, reed thickets along lakes, near villages and in the open steppe. She takes refuge in burrows. In the spring, females bring 5-8 young. The main food is small rodents. Commercial value is low.)

8(5) The color is not red or sandy. The inner edges of the auditory tympani at the back diverge somewhat (Fig. 114, b).

9(12) The color of the entire body is brown, brown or reddish-brown, only sometimes there are white spots on the lips, chin and chest. Ears without a light border. The frontal area of ​​the skull is flattened. The width of the skull in the area of ​​the auditory canals is approximately 1/2 the condylobasal length of the skull (subgenus Lutreola).

10(11) The upper lip is covered with white hair. The length of the tail with hair is approximately 1/3 of the length of the body. The smallest width of the skull behind the postorbital processes is equal to or greater than the width of the interorbital space. The third anterior root tooth of the upper jaw is in contact with its end with the anterior edge of the outer blade of the carnassial tooth (Fig. 115, a).

European mink

(European part of the USSR, except the Far North, the Caucasus, the Urals. Stays near water bodies. Digs burrows in the banks. Swims well. Rutting in February - March. Pregnancy lasts 35-80 days. There are 2-7 cubs in a litter. Feeds on small rodents, frogs , fish, crayfish, insects, shellfish, berries. Gives valuable skin.)

Rice. 115. Third and fourth anterior teeth of the upper jaw of European (a) and American (b) minks

11(10) The upper lip is covered with dark fur. The length of the tail is approximately 1/2 the length of the body. The smallest width of the skull behind the postorbital processes is less than the width of the interorbital space. The third anterior root tooth of the upper jaw with its posterior end enters the recess between the outer and inner lobes of the carnassial tooth (Fig. 115, b).

American mink

(Acclimatized in a number of areas of the southern part of the Far East, Southern Siberia, the mountains of Central Asia, the Caucasus, Tataria, Bashkiria, Karelia. In terms of lifestyle, it is close to the European mink.)

12(9) The color of the back is sharply different from the color of the abdomen. The legs, chest and groins are covered with black-brown or brown fur. Ears with light edges. The frontal area of ​​the skull is convex. The width of the skull in the area of ​​the auditory canals is significantly greater than 1/2 of its condylobasal length (subgenus Rutorius).

13(14) The tail is black or black-brown throughout. On the back, a black awn hides a light undercoat. The belly is blackish. The area of ​​the skull behind the postorbital processes is without a sharp narrowing in the middle, with almost parallel lateral edges (Fig. 116, b).

Ferret black

(The European part of the USSR, except for the northern regions, the Urals. Lives in forests, copses, thickets of bushes, floodplains, parks, villages. Lives in burrows and other shelters. In the spring, after a 40-day pregnancy, females give birth to 2-12 young. Feeds on small vertebrates, insects. Sometimes attacks poultry and rabbits. Object of fur trade.)

Rice. 116. Skulls of light (a) and black (b) ferrets

14(13) The tail is light at the base and blackish at the tip. On the back, the light undercoat clearly shows through between the dark ends of the guard hairs. The belly is light, with blackish spots in the groin and between the front legs. The area of ​​the skull behind the postorbital processes narrows sharply in the middle part (Fig. 116, a).

Ferret light

(Steppe and forest-steppe zones from Ukraine to the Amur, the plains of Central Asia and Kazakhstan. Found in the open steppe and semi-desert areas. Lives in burrows. In the spring, females give birth to offspring of 6-18 cubs. Benefits by exterminating harmful rodents. Hunted for their skins.)

05/05/2016 at 19:49 Moscow time 8 574

Mustelidae are a family of mammals belonging to the order Carnivora. The mustelid family is one of the most diverse in terms of the number of species - there are about 60 of them.

List

They are famous for their dexterity and agility, as well as for having luxurious and valuable fur.

The body size is quite small for predators. The sea otter has the longest body length (up to one and a half meters), the smallest is the lesser weasel (from 11 centimeters). Males are larger than females.

Predators of the mustelid family have an elongated and very flexible body with short limbs. Animals adapted to living in an aquatic environment (otters) have swimming membranes between their toes.

The head is small, wedge-shaped. The neck is short, but very mobile. The predatory family of mustelids has a powerful jaw, well-developed pointed teeth and sharp claws on the paws that help not only hunt small animals, but also protect themselves from large predators and humans.

The main distinguishing feature of these animals is luxurious thick fur with a soft undercoat. Its color may vary:

• plain
• two-color
• spotted
• striped

The quality of fur in the mustelid family differs depending on the time of year - in winter it is softer and thicker.

Mustelids live on all continents except Antarctica. Thanks to their ability to adapt to a wide variety of conditions, they can be found on the ground, in trees, in rock gorges and in reservoirs. Due to active hunting of the mustelid family, their range and numbers are gradually decreasing.

Mustelids most often live alone, sometimes in pairs or families, and only as an exception they gather in small flocks. They lead a sedentary lifestyle within their territory. During the day they rest, and at dusk they go hunting.

Thanks to their natural agility, ability to climb trees and swim, the diet of mustelids is very diverse. Animals prefer to eat rodents, small birds, bird eggs, fish, etc. Many nimble and agile predators hunt their victims by climbing straight into their holes. Some people enjoy eating nuts and berries.

In order to more easily survive the winter lack of food, predatory animals make supplies for the winter. Stoats and weasels put several dozen mice in a row, horis hide under the ice, and minks store up to several kilograms of fish.

Pregnancy lasts on average from one to two months. From one to fourteen cubs are born. Small predators of the mustelid family are born helpless, naked and blind.

During the first two months, mothers care for them, feed them and keep them warm. At the age of one to two years, animals become adults. Their lifespan ranges from five to twenty years.

Representatives of the mustelid family are an important element of the food chain - they regulate the number of small rodents and birds.

Ferrets and weasels living near populated areas steal poultry and their eggs, causing damage to agriculture. They themselves serve as food for wolves, foxes, eagles, and owls. Some individuals carry infectious diseases, including rabies.

The thick and soft fur of mustelids is used to make fur coats. The most popular commercial fur animals are mink and sable.

As a result of intensive hunting, many animals of the family have already completely exterminated, about 40% are listed in the International Red Book. In order to maintain the number of valuable mammals, many of them are raised on special farms.