A large aquatic mammal belonging to the mustelidae family. 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

Peoples' Friendship University of Russia

Faculty of Agriculture

Department of Morphology, Animal Physiology and Veterinary Expertise

Coursework on the topic

Lifestyle of the mustelid family

The work was carried out by a student of group SV-12

Potapova Anastasia Alexandrovna

Scientific adviser:

Candidate of Agricultural Sciences Rystsova E. O.

Head department:

Professor, Doctor of Veterinary Sciences Nikitchenko V.E.

Moscow 2006

2.Introduction……………………………………………………...….3

3.Main features of morphology…………………………………..4

4. Phylogeny………………………...……………………………...8

5. Systematics……………………………………………………..9

6.Habitat………………………………………………………………31

7. Nutrition………………………………………………………38

8. Reproduction……………………………………………………45

9.Cunya in fine arts………………………….50

10. Some interesting features of the behavior of mustelids......51

11. Seasonal lifestyle features……………………….53

12. Intraspecific relations………………...................................55

13. Interspecies relations……………………………………..55

14. Role in biogeocenosis…………………………………………..60

15. Role in household human activity………………………...…61

16.Security……………………………………………………………...………..62

17. Conclusion…………………………………………………….63

18. List of used literature……...…………………64

Introduction

The mustelidae family (Mustelidae) is undoubtedly of great interest for study and observation.

In the order of carnivores (Carnivora), the mustelid family has the greatest diversity of species (about 65-70). A wide variety of life forms (terrestrial, semi-arboreal, semi-burrowing, semi-aquatic) provides this group of predators with dominance in the biocenoses of all landscape-geographical zones.

Being pronounced and specialized predators, they are also of great interest in the study of one of the central problems of ecology - the relationship between predator and prey, and provide abundant material for the development of evolutionary problems.

Mustelids inhabit all continents except Antarctica and Australia (however, some species have recently been acclimatized here by humans). In Russia, Western Siberia is richest in mustelids, which has long been a supplier of fur from these beautiful animals, because representatives of Mustelidae are also known as the most valuable fur-bearing animals in the world. Sable, marten, and mink are in unlimited demand both on the Russian and global markets. The achievements of breeders and the current level of research on genetics allow us to hope for further promising development of fur farming in Russia.

The research of species of the family is devoted to the scientific works of many famous scientists, invaluable in their informativeness and relevance, such as D. V. Ternovsky and Yu. G. Ternovskaya (who devoted their lives to breeding and observation of martens, as well as to the conservation and re-acclimatization of rare and endangered species), In E. Sidorovich, A. N. Segal, P. B. Yurgenson.

In this work I aim to give a modern summary of knowledge on Mustelidae, based on scientific and periodical sources.

Main features of mustelid morphology

The Mustelidae family unites predators with different specializations and dissimilar life forms (terrestrial, semi-burrowing, semi-arboreal, semi-aquatic).

As adults, males are usually larger than females. However, in natural populations there are females that are larger than some males. Cases of the appearance of small males in specialized myophages are especially frequent in years when cubs are born during depressions in the number of rodents, characterized by a meager food supply. At the same time, the appearance of large females coincides with years of abundant food. In individual broods, with a similar feeding regime, the cubs (siblings) that reach adulthood have clear sexual dimorphism in weight and size. This has been confirmed by experiments on feeding young weasels, stoats, and ferrets on different feed rations. But in all the species we studied, except Furo, at birth and in the early stages of postnatal development, no significant differences in these characteristics were found between males and females.

The body shape of most marten species is close to elongated cylindrical; the body is very flexible. The otter's body resembles a wedge, and the minks occupy a middle position between the otter and terrestrial mustelids. In the latter, the neck is narrower than the head and the expansion in the lumbar region is less pronounced.

Marten body shape:

1 - otter, 2 - American mink, 3 - European mink, 4 - badger, 5 - wolverine, 6 - sable, 7 - kolinok, 8 - solongoi, 9 - ermine, 10- weasel (based on photographs from carcasses)

Representatives of the family are distinguished by the beauty, silkiness, variety and value of their fur. Hair is one of the most important organs of thermoregulation in mammals; it reduces the loss of internal heat of the animal at low environmental temperatures. Plays a certain role in maintaining moisture in the internal tissues of the body and protects against mechanical damage.

The thickness of the hair is an adaptive feature; the tightly closed awn of the mink and otter prevents the penetration of water into the thickness of the down layer. The hair is poorly wetted, mainly the upper part of the spine gets wet. Coming out of the water, the animal shakes itself off and carefully wipes its wet fur on the grass, moss or stones, crawling on its stomach and back, and in winter it wipes itself on the snow, sometimes rolling down a gently sloping bank or hillock and leaving behind furrows (grooves). Minks and otters also leave furrows in the snow during transitions, sliding on their bellies on the ice or descending from steep passages to the water. Drying hair is essential, especially in severe frosts, when animals after spearfishing, having previously dried, enter the nest. Observations in captivity have established that wild American minks do not fit into nests until their fur is dry. By vigorously wiping the hair dry after a long swim, the animal stops further cooling its body. The data obtained suggest that the adaptation of flogging to an amphibiotic lifestyle is relative. You should not think that a mink can remain in cold water for a long time. The cooling effect of water also affects the mink, which tolerates being in cold water only better than the ermine, light-colored ferret and, probably, other terrestrial martens.

Ferrets, leopards, kolonki, solongoi, and badgers are characterized by a distinctive coloring of the muzzle (mask), which makes these animals less noticeable when they look out of shelters or burrows. In some stoats, such a mask appears temporarily at certain stages of ontogenesis and very rarely persists for life. Its absence in adult stoats is apparently a secondary phenomenon. Many species have spots and stripes of various sizes, configurations and colors. Hair pigments play an important role in the life of the animal, providing protective or repellent coloring.

1. Mask characteristic of a young stoat (45-day-old calf)

2. a rare case of a mask preserved for life (atavism) in the same ermine.

The limbs of martens are five-fingered. The first finger is the shortest, and the third and fourth are the longest. The exception is the sea otter, in which the fifth toe reaches its maximum length on its hind leg.

In the process of evolution, animals have developed adaptations to movement, escape from enemies, and orientation to obtaining food during the snowy period of the year. However, within the family there is significant interspecific variability in limb length. Of the species studied, the longest-legged one will be the wolverine, and the short-legged one will be the bandage.

When moving on soft snow, the relative length of the palm and mortar (% of the total body length) is also important. The maximum data for these two indicators are observed in wolverine - 17 to 21%, respectively, then in sable, pine and stone martens, approximately on average 13 and 19%. The rest are arranged in this order: Siberian mink and European mink - 12 and 16 %; light ferret - 12 and 14; ermine, solongoi and otter - II and 16; American mink and badger - 11 and 15; black ferret and furo - Ni 14; itatsi - 10 and 15%. At the end of the row there is a weasel whose relative length of the palm is 10 and the foot is 13%. It should be noted that in these parameters the difference between males and females is insignificant and does not exceed 1%.

Adaptation to snow cover is manifested in the furring of the soles, which contributes to thermal insulation and increases the supporting surface. This trait is most strongly expressed in the weasel, solongoi, weasel and ermine. On the hind legs of the stone marten, on the large plantar pulp (pulvinar metatarsale), there are four tubercles formed by numerous horny outgrowths - plates. In total they take approximately 32 % area of ​​the plantar crumb. Apparently, this is a kind of organ that facilitates the movement of the animal on a slippery substrate. In sable and pine marten, the horny outgrowths are much less developed and are noticeable only when the summer hair coat is very thin. The badger has similar, but very faintly visible plates. The otter's soles of the feet and palms are almost completely bare; the minks' toes and soles are not covered with hair. In severe frosts, this protects animals climbing out of the water from ice freezing on their soles. Rare pubescence of the soles of the paws is characteristic of the badger - a typical shrew, and in the semi-aquatic light ferret this feature is expressed approximately as in semi-aquatic minks.

All representatives of marten-like animals have connecting membranes between their toes. Particular attention of biologists was attracted by the swimming membranes of the defects as forms intermediate between terrestrial and semi-aquatic predators.

The skin connecting membranes between the toes of each species are not developed to the same extent and, increasing the total area of ​​the paws, perform a variety of functions. In the otter, they facilitate movement in the water, enhancing rowing movements. It is easier for the sable and wolverine to cover, as if on skis, long distances on freshly fallen soft snow, and the badger and light-colored ferret are helped when raking out dug up earth.

Development of membranes in cuneiforms:

1 – otter, 2 – badger, 3 – sable, 4 – light ferret, 5 – American mink, 6 – European mink, 7 – wolverine, 8 – stone marten, 9 – black ferret, 10 – furo, 11 – kolonks, 12 – solongoi, 13 – ermine, 14 – weasel.

(top row – hind limbs, bottom row – front legs)

Only through a comparative analysis was it possible to show that the membranes of the American and European mink are less developed than those of the otter, badger, sable and light ferret, and are closer to such terrestrial predators as the wolverine, stone marten, black ferret, weasel, solongoi, ermine, caress, dressing. In minks they do not play such an important role as in the otter when swimming.

The otter, in addition, has a very powerful long wedge-shaped tail, which makes up more than half of its body (on average 54%) and contains 24-26 vertebrae. The tail is a necessary locomotor organ for the rapid movement and maneuvering of this dexterous predator that obtains its main food in bodies of water.

The tail varies from cone-shaped, compressed in the dorsal-ventral direction (otter), with different transitions, to almost cylindrical (stoats, weasels). Its length has high interspecific variability, being in accordance with the number of caudal vertebrae. In terms of relative tail length, the otter is in first place (males on average 51.8 + 2.04, females on average 56.2 ± ± 0.60), followed by martens - stone and forest martens, kolin, solongoi, American and European mink, black ferret, furo, ermine, sable, light ferret, badger. The weasel closes the row - males average 13.2 ± 0.40, females average 14.5 ± 0.50.

The tail makes it easier for animals to maintain balance when running fast, making sharp turns, jumping, and serves as a support when standing on their hind limbs. In semi-aquatic minks and otters, the tail often acts as a rudder. For the pine marten (semi-arboreal form), the tail is of great importance when gliding from tree to tree and from tree to ground.

It is very typical for mustelids to stand on their hind legs - “in a column”. They take this pose in case of danger, the appearance of an unknown object, when viewing the surrounding area, or orientation. The only exception is the European mink. Over many years of observation, no one had ever seen her in such a position.

A significant difference in the size of the auricles is characteristic of martens. Large ears are characteristic of sables and martens, which lead a terrestrial and semi-arboreal lifestyle, while in the half-buried badger they are faintly distinguished. The otter's ears are especially small. In her auricle there are concave and convex pocket-shaped thickened folds of skin, which, when diving, tightly close together, preventing water from penetrating into the ear canal. The nostrils have a narrow slit-like shape, in their upper part they are fleshy semicircular

the outgrowths can close together, and in At the bottom there remains a small oval hole, from which bubbles of exhaled air rise to the surface of the water, forming a silvery path indicating the underwater path of the animal. A cautiously emerging otter usually sticks its head out slightly when in danger, with its nostrils, eyes and ears located on the same plane above the water itself. This makes it possible, while remaining barely noticeable, to navigate simultaneously using smell, sight and hearing. In minks, which apparently relatively recently switched to semi-aquatic life, there are no significant differences in the structure of the auricle and nostrils from closely related terrestrial predators.

This family is also characterized by paired preanal glands. They are absent only in the sea otter. The glands secrete a secretion (musk) with a characteristic odor and color for each species. This organ begins to function at an early age. The ferret, which is considered the most fetid animal after the skunk, has become widely known. In fact, black ferrets and especially light ferrets secrete musk only in rare cases, with severe irritation and fear, and the smell of their musk is much weaker than that of many other members of the family. But the persistence and sharpness of the odor secreted by the glands, representatives of the family can be roughly arranged in the following order: American mink, weasel, ermine, solongoi, European mink, ferrets - black, furo and light. In sable, marten, wolverine, otter, and badger, the secretion of the anal glands is difficult for humans to detect. It is interesting to note that the furo ferret emits a specific sweetish (“honey”) smell.

The release of secretions becomes of paramount importance during the mating season for individuals of both sexes, facilitating the possibility of contacts and meetings. The opinion that the secretions of glands ensure the marking of individual territory in order to scare away individuals of the same species is anthropomorphic in nature; it contradicts the existing practice of mass catching of predators at feeding points and is not confirmed by the presence of a high concentration and density of these predators in nature, in places that are optimal for their life.

The predatory family of mustelids includes a large number of phylogenetically related species, which differ quite significantly in body structure and lifestyle.

The predominant number of representatives are small and very small; there are, of course, medium ones, but there are not many of them. The body length of such animals ranges from fifteen to 120 (sometimes up to 150) cm. The weight of representatives varies from 100 grams to 40 kilograms. As a rule, their body is very elongated and quite flexible. A predator of the mustelid family with a short and massive body is a rather rare phenomenon.

Representatives of the family are distinguished by developed hair. In many species that live in the north in winter, it is very fluffy and thick. In the south, some representatives have a body covered with coarse, almost bristly hair. The colors can be different: spotted, plain, striped. It happens that there is an animal of the mustelid family whose fur is lighter underneath than on top. Depending on the season, representatives may change in thickness and fluffiness of fur. Some species change their color to snow-white in winter.

As a rule, all mustelids lead a terrestrial existence, climb trees well, some can dig quite deep burrows, and also get food from underground.

Mustelids are widespread. They are found on all continents except Australia.

The mustelid family is one of the richest in the number of genera and species in the order of predators. It contains approximately 70 species, which are grouped into 25 genera and five subfamilies. The first of them is called martens. It includes approximately 33 species and ten genera.

Mustelidae family: representatives

Let's start describing animals with such a predator as the weasel. She has a fairly long, thin, flexible body. Its average length is twenty centimeters. Inhabits almost the entire territory of the former Soviet Union. Weight on average 70 grams.

It is found where rodents live, that is, in fields among bushes and weeds. In summer and winter, you can see a pregnant or recently given birth weasel with babies. There are an average of 6 cubs in one litter.

Ermine

The ermine is similar in appearance to the weasel, with an average body length of 30 cm.

This animal is predatory and feeds on rodents. Sometimes it destroys nests. In times of hunger, it can eat frogs; if they are not available, then it eats garbage and juniper berries. It reproduces once a year, the duration of pregnancy is approximately 9.5 months. There is an average of five babies in a litter.

This representative is active at different times of the day.

Solonga

Another mammal of the weasel family looks like an ermine. This animal is called solonga. He is slightly larger and has fluffier fur. Body length is about 30 cm. It feeds on voles and other small animals, even muskrats. In addition, the diet includes lizards and birds. In winter, mating occurs, the duration of pregnancy is a month. There are approximately three to four cubs in a litter.

Columns

The weasel has a denser build than the ermine. The body length reaches forty centimeters. The average weight is 750 g. Winter color is reddish-ocher. In summer, the colors are darker.

The rut occurs from February to April. Pregnancy lasts 40 days (on average), there are 7 cubs in a litter.

Minks

When considering the mustelidae family, one cannot help but recall the American and European mink. These animals dive and swim beautifully. Externally, the mink resembles a column.

The European one is smaller than the American one. Its body length is 40 cm. Weight is no more than one and a half kilograms. What else distinguishes these two types of minks? The structure of the teeth and skull.

Minks live near bodies of water with washed out banks, feeding on small rodents, muskrats, frogs, etc.

They mate in the spring, while still in the snow. The gestation period takes an average of fifty days. There are usually nine cubs in a litter, although there may be more.

Ferrets

Ferrets are very close to the norm. There are three known types of them: steppe, blackfoot and black. The first is the largest, body length up to 56 cm, weight up to two kg. Slightly smaller black ferrets. Their body length is 48 cm and their weight is no more than 1.5 kg.

The basis of nutrition for all three species is rodents. The black ferret, as a rule, prefers mice and voles, while the steppe ferret prefers hamsters and gophers. Prairie dogs are what the Blackfeet prefer.

These representatives of the family (especially the steppe ones) live near lakes and rivers.

Dressing

This animal is close (in structure) to ferrets. Its body length reaches 35 cm, and its weight reaches 580 grams. The bandage lives in virgin steppes, deserts, and semi-deserts. It feeds on rodents, lizards, bird eggs, various berries and other fruits.

Martens

Now we will talk about stone and pine martens. These animals are much larger than ferrets. The body length of the stone marten is on average 45 cm, and its weight is no more than 2.5 kg. Lesnaya is a little smaller. Its body length is on average 44 cm, and its weight ranges from 750 to 1500 grams. The body of martens is strong, slender, the ears are large and erect. The differences between these species are in the structure of the teeth and skull. A more southern species is the stone marten.

As the name implies, the forest one lives in forests littered with dark coniferous and mixed ones. Sometimes the stone one lives in such areas, but more often it can be seen on treeless rocky slopes. As a rule, they are active at night, although they can also be found during the day.

The pine marten eats rodents and sometimes hares. The stone one eats the same way, but in its diet the lion's share is occupied by plant foods. The rut occurs between June and August. An average of five babies are born per litter

Sable

The sable is a very famous animal with a stocky body and a fairly short tail. The average body length is 44 cm. The sable's fur is thick and black-brown in color. It feeds on animal and plant foods. In summer they also eat insects. Sable cubs are born in April-May. On average there are five births.

Pecan

Pecans also belong to the mustelid family. This is a fairly large animal, the body length is on average 65 cm. The weight of the representative reaches 8 kg. The color of the animal is dark brown. Their pregnancy lasts 345 days, and an average of 3 cubs are born.

Kharza

This animal is quite large, has a unique body structure, and is brightly colored. The body length reaches eighty centimeters, and the weight is up to five and a half kilograms. The animal lives in mixed and coniferous forests. Kharza feeds on rodents, fish, berries and nuts. Sometimes it attacks Siberian weasel and sable.

Other representatives

The mustelidae family also includes the following animals:

Zoril;

Spotted Ferret;

Wolverine;

Common badger;

American badger;

Pork badger;

Tree Badger;

Striped skunk;

Spotted Skunk;

Patagonian skunk;

White-nosed skunk;

Common otter;

Canadian otter;

Cat Otter;

Sumatran otter;

Indian otter;

Giant otter;

Eastern clawless otter;

African clawless otter;

Congolese otter;

Conclusion

Now you know what the mustelid family is and what animals belong to it. Unfortunately, we were not able to examine them all in detail, but we described the most interesting animals. As you can see, each animal is unique and inimitable in its own way.

Although there is a common tendency for all animals belonging to the same family to have similar traits, the mustelid family is an exception to this. At the moment, it consists of twenty-three modern species that live in Eurasia, North and South America, and Africa. These are the smallest animals of all carnivores.

General characteristics of mustelids

In the mustelid family there are many representatives of different habitats, there are aquatic and semi-aquatic species, and terrestrial ones. Among the general characteristics that animals of this family possess are an elongated and flexible body, located on relatively short legs with five toes on each.

The neck is mobile, the head is small. In addition, you need to pay attention to the front part of the skull, which is slightly shortened. Body length is 11 - 150cm, and weight is from 25g to 45kg. It is also necessary to emphasize that the mustelid family is not only representatives of the predatory animal world, they are also omnivorous animals of rather small size.

Everyone has good vision, hearing and smell. They are all agile and dexterous. Some can swim well, some can climb trees.

Representatives of the weasel family

Among the most famous representatives of this family are:

• pine marten;
• badger;
• mink;
• sable;
• otter
• weasel;
• wolverine;
• ermine.

Features of representatives of the mustelid family

First of all, it is necessary to pay attention to the fact that the skin of the above-mentioned representatives of the animal world is covered in most cases with thick and thin hair (it is for this reason that they are the most expensive fur-bearing animals). The color is varied - spotted, plain, striped. Fur colors are white, black, brown, red.

As for the dental system and the structure of their limbs, they are quite diverse and there is no common characteristic of them. Mustelids can have from 28 to 38 teeth. Sea otters, for example, have flippers on their hind legs. The claws of mustelids are not retractable.

It should be said about the amazingly impressive skeleton, which consists of extremely thin bones. The spinal column itself has: 11 or 12 pairs of ribs in the chest area; 8 or 9 vertebrae in the lumbar region; 3 sacral vertebrae; from 12 to 26 caudal vertebrae. In most cases, the collarbones in these animals are not sufficiently developed, but the shoulder blades are large.

Mustelidae habitat

Today, representatives of the mustelid family can be found all over the world, with the exception of Australia: they are not affected in any way by different altitudes and different climatic conditions. In most cases, the animals presented above choose their place of residence in:

• mountains and rocky areas;
• forests and fields;
  
• gardens

Lifestyle. Nutrition

Almost all animals from the mustelid family lead a solitary lifestyle. They prefer twilight or nocturnal activity. Very often, representatives of this family prefer to use holes and holes that they dig themselves or simply occupy those created by other animals.

Some species like to make their homes between stones and branches, in tree hollows. In most cases, they do not hibernate: only some species from the mustelidae family do. It is almost impossible to meet them in the wild. All mustelids are shy and cautious.

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.

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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.