Mustelidae, from Latim mustela (“weasel”), in reference to the fact that all the members of this family are weasel-related animals.

Common names of members

Weasels, stoats, badgers, otters, martens, grisons, and wolverines

Distribution  

All continents except Antarctica, Australia, and most oceanic islands.

Size

The smaller variants can be under 20 cm in length and 30 g in weight, and the largest up to 1.7 m and 45 kg.

Morphology

They are typically small animals with elongated bodies, short legs, short skulls, short, round ears, and thick fur. They have anal scent glands that produce a strong-smelling secretion the animals use for sexual signaling and marking territory.

Habitat & Ecology

All terrestrial habitats: grassland, forest, mountain, desert, etc.

Some aquatic habitats: fresh water river, lakes, marsh, coastal.

Diet

They are predominantly carnivorous, although some eat vegetable matter (fruits, seeds) at times. While not all of them share an identical dentition, they all possess teeth adapted for eating flesh, including the presence of shearing carnassials (aired upper and lower teeth modified in such a way as to allow enlarged and often self-sharpening edges to pass by each other in a shearing manner).

Reproduction 

Mustelids are solitary except for the mating period. They copulate up to several hours to stimulate ovulation in the female body. They give birth to one litter per year. Only females are responsible for parenting care. Mothers will keep the young in a burrow or a den and defend the surrounding territories for food and protection.

Species known in Hong Kong

3.

Total species known

64

Species in the collection

6

Species in Hong Kong

3

Reference

Macdonald, D. W. (2006). The Encyclopedia of mammals. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acref/9780199206087.001.0001.

Law, C. J., Slater, G. J., Mehta, R. S. (2019). Shared extremes by ectotherms and endotherms: Body elongation in mustelids is associated with small size and reduced limbs. Evolution, 73(4), 735–749. https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.13702.