Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
Skull. The root word for "stoat" is likely either the Dutch word stout ("bold") [4] or the Gothic word πππ°πΏππ°π½ (stautan, "to push"). [5] According to John Guillim, in his Display of Heraldrie, the word "ermine" is likely derived from Armenia, the nation where it was thought the species originated, [4] though other authors have linked it to the Norman French from the ...
Skulls of a long-tailed weasel (top), a stoat (bottom left) and least weasel (bottom right), as illustrated in Merriam's Synopsis of the Weasels of North America. The long-tailed 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 genus Mustela includes the least weasels, polecats, stoats, ferrets, and European mink. Members of this genus are small, active predators, with long and slender bodies and short legs. The family Mustelidae, or mustelids (which also includes badgers, otters, and wolverines), is often referred to as the "weasel family".
A stoat sits up and observes its territory as it blends perfectly into a snowy landscape in Belgium. Michel had been looking for stoats in the snow for many years.
The American ermine or American stoat (Mustela richardsonii) is a species of mustelid native to most of North America. The specific epithet refers to Arctic explorer and naturalist John Richardson .
In Ireland, stoats were thought to behave like humans who had family structures and rituals for the dead. Seeing a stoat at the beginning of a journey was considered bad luck unless you greeted the animal as a neighbor. [16] In 17th century England, weasels were believed to be the familiars of witches. [17]
The search engine that helps you find exactly what you're looking for. Find the most relevant information, video, images, and answers from all across the Web.
The skull is, overall, similar to that of the stoat, but smaller, though the skulls of large male weasels tend to overlap in size with those of small female stoats. [23] There are usually four pairs of nipples but these are only visible in females. The baculum is short, [24] 16 to 20 mm (0.63 to 0.79 in), with a thick, straight shaft.