Weasel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Weasel |
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| Least weasel (Mustela nivalis) | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Mustelidae |
| Subfamily: | Mustelinae |
| Genus: | Mustela Linnaeus, 1758 |
| Type species | |
| Mustela erminea Linnaeus, 1758
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| Mustela range | |
Weasels are the genus Mustela, part of the Mustelidae family. The genus includes the weasels, polecats, stoats, ferrets and minks.
Weasels are small, active predators, long and slender with short legs. Their body shape is adapted to going down burrows after prey such as rabbits. There are 17 species, and they live all over the world except for Antarctica and Australasia.
Weasels vary in length from 173 to 217 mm (6.8 to 8.5 in). They have red or brown upper coats, white underneath. Their tails may be from 34 to 52 mm (1.3 to 2.0 in) long.
Biologically, despite looking a bit like cats, they are actually more related to dogs.
- Weasel riding on woodpecker. [1]
Images for kids
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"Ten" from the Gazu Hyakki Yagyō by Sekien Toriyama
See also
In Spanish: Mustela para niños
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Weasel Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.