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Least weasels vary in length from 173 to 217 mm (6 + 3 ⁄ 4 to 8 + 1 ⁄ 2 in), [3] females being smaller than the males, and usually have red or brown upper coats and white bellies; some populations of some species moult to a wholly white coat in winter. They have long, slender bodies, which enable them to follow their prey into burrows.
Sthenictis sp. (American Museum of Natural History). Mustelids vary greatly in size and behaviour. The smaller variants of the least weasel can be under 20 cm (8 in) in length, while the giant otter of Amazonian South America can measure up to 1.7 m (5 ft 7 in) and sea otters can exceed 45 kg (99 lb) in weight.
The backs of the front legs are brown, and the hind limbs are similarly brown but the inner lateral parts are white hairs with brown spots. The palms and soles have shorter hair. The second lower molar (M2) is absent unlike least weasels. The species is named for the second lower molar (M2) being absent unlike in the least weasel.
The least weasel is the product of a process begun 5–7 million years ago, when northern forests were replaced by open grassland, thus prompting an explosive evolution of small, burrowing rodents. The weasel's ancestors were larger than the current form, and underwent a reduction in size to exploit the new food source.
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Mustelidae is a family of mammals in the order Carnivora, which includes weasels, badgers, otters, ferrets, martens, minks, and wolverines, and many other extant and extinct genera. A member of this family is called a mustelid; Mustelidae is the largest family in Carnivora, and its extant species are divided into eight subfamilies .
The American ermine has a body plan typical of weasels. It has short legs, a long body and neck, and a small triangular head with short round ears. It has a brown dorsum with a white venter (except during winter when the coat is fully white) and a short, black-tipped tail. [2]
Least weasel: Mustela nivalis: Uncommon M. nivalis allegheniensis: Western two-thirds American ermine: Mustela richardsonii: Uncommon Statewide except southwest Long-tailed weasel: Neogale frenata: Common Statewide Mink: Neogale vison: Common N. vison mink: Statewide Fisher: Pekania pennanti: Reintroduced North central Badger: Taxidea taxus: Rare