•
•
•
•
•
Large canines
No diastema
Claws not retractile
Mustelid glands
Short legs
Order Carnivora
Family Mustelidae
Taxidea taxus
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/ermine.htm
Mustela erminea
By 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 – 240-330mm
Tail – 60-95mm
HF – 30-45mm
Ear – 15-20mm
Weight – 60-150g
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/informati
on/Mustela_erminea.html
Mustela erminea
Distribution:
http://mbgnet.mobot.org/set
s/taiga/animals/ermine.htm
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://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/ermine.htm
Diet:
Mustela erminea
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
press, Princeton, New Jersey.
University
•
Bowers, N., Bowers, R. and K. Kaufman. 2004. Mammals of North America.
Mifflin,
New York, New York.
Houghton
•
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
http://fwp.state.mt.us/FieldGuide/mediaDisplay.aspx?id=5514&e
lcode=AMAJF02030
Long-tailed Weasel
Dawn M Goshorn
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/199
8-02-07/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
• Open
brushy
areas
• Woodland
borders
• Overgrown
fence rows
• Usually
near water
Habitat
www.ettrickyarrow.bordernet.co.uk/ scenery/ima...
http://www.ecologyandso
ciety.org/vol5/iss1/art9/fig
ure15.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/wri
t5/Images/Long-tailed-weasel6.jpg
References
Bowels 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&sha
peID=1032&curPageNum=5&recnum=MA0036. November 2004.
Mustela nivalis
(Least weasel)
By: Lisa Hinote
Mustela
nivalis
Identification: 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.boz
eman.k12.mt.us/
wildlife/
http://www.blueplan
etbiomes.org/least_w
easel.htm
Mustela nivalis
Distribution: Statewide
Occurs across North
America from Alaska
to Maine, and as far
south as Georgia
http://wildlife.wisc.edu/courses/301/mamm
als/maps/images/least_weasel.jpg
Mustela nivalis
Habitat: 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; 16 young in each litter;
young are born naked
and blind; female take
care of young for
about 12-14 weeks.
http://homestudy.ihea.com/wild
lifeID/058leastweasel.htm
Mustela
nivalis
Conservation: 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/showS
peciesSH.asp?curGroupID=5&shapeID=103
2&curPageNum=7&recnum=MA0453
References
Anderson, 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 vison
American 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 vison
Status:
Common, Throughout
Habitat:
Semi aquatic- prefers lakes,
ponds, streams, rivers, marshes
and 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 vison
Conservation:
Trapping Season Nov. 6,
2004 – Jan. 31, 2004
No 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/mi
nk.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 Skunk
Spilogale 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.
Eastern
http://www.eduscapes.com/nature/skunk/index1.htm
Western
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/profiles/photo
s/nt/nt0211aS.html
Habitat: Mixed woodlands
and open areas, scrub and
farmland
Distribution: statewide
Status: common
http://www.eduscapes.com/nature/skunk/index1.htm
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
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.death-valley.us/article48.html
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=MA00
39
• 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 Skunk
Order: Carnivora
Family: Mustelidae
Genus 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.edu
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
• 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
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=1
17&start=16&prev=/images%3Fq%3DAmerican%2BBadg
er%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26output%3Dsearch%26sa%
3DG
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/pnnp/bc/kootenay/images/badger_subspp_map.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.pc.gc.ca/pnnp/bc/kootenay/natcul/natcul30_e.asp&h=354&w=350&sz=38&tbnid=A3U4HrXx0oJ:&tbnh=116&tbnw=115&start=11&prev=/images%3Fq%3DAmerican%2BBadger%26hl%
3Den%26lr%3D%26output%3Dsearch
Taxidea taxus
Habitat
• Open areas, plains, prairies,
farmland, and edges of woods
• Have multiple dens for sleeping,
breeding, and storage
• Single entrance marked by dirt
pile
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.ribbitphotography.com/mammals/ima
ges/badger.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.ribbitphotography.com/mammals/photo_pages/006
013.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
Reproduction
Taxidea taxus
• 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
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/resources/phil_m
yers/ADW_mammals_3_4_03/badgerburrow.jpg/medium.jpg&imgrefurl=http://animaldiversity.ummz.u
mich.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%3DAmeri
can%2BBadger%26start%3D60%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26output%3Dsearch%26sa%3DN
Diet
Taxidea taxus
• Carnivore
• Small vertebrates, rodents,
carrion, fish, snakes, and
insects
• Sometimes cache food
• Tunnels after most of its prey
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.bigdarby.org/Media/iMamBadger.jpg&imgref
url=http://www.bigdarby.org/sMammals.htm&h=131&w=131&sz=19&tbnid=AhWThR1GZhgJ:&tb
nh=86&tbnw=86&start=195&prev=/images%3Fq%3DAmerican%2BBadger%26start%3D180%26
hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26output%3Dsearch%26sa%3DN
Taxidea taxus
Random
• Torpor not hibernation
• Active day and night
• Pest species to ranchers
• Humans are worst
predator
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.valleylandfund.com/2000winners/imag
es/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=/imag
es%3Fq%3DAmerican%2BBadger%26start%3D80%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN
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/Taxi
dea_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.