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Mustela

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Description

A weasel is a mammal of the genus Mustela of the family Mustelidae. The genus Mustela includes the least weasels, polecats, stoats, ferrets, and mink. Members of this genus are small, active predators, with long and slender bodies and short legs. The family Mustelidae (which also includes badgers, otters, and wolverines) is often referred to as the "weasel family". In the UK, the term "weasel" usually refers to the smallest species, the least weasel (M. nivalis).

From Wikipedia article at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustela, which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.

Source Data

Source	ID	Link
Global Biodiversity Information Facility ID (GBIF)	2433922	https://www.gbif.org/species/2433922
PaleoBioDB ID (PBDB)	41139	https://paleobiodb.org/classic/checkTaxonInfo?taxon_no=41139

Rank

genus

Taxonomy (GBIF,PBDB)

Life : Animalia : Chordata : Mammalia : Carnivora : Mustelidae : Mustela

Taxonomic Status (GBIF)

accepted

Classification
(PBDB,GBIF)

Rank	Name	Author
-	Eukaryota
-	Opisthokonta	Cavalier-Smith 1987
kingdom	Animalia
-	Triploblastica	Lankester 1877
-	Nephrozoa	Jondelius et al. 2002
-	Deuterostomia	Grobben 1908
phylum	Chordata	Haeckel 1847
subphylum	Vertebrata	Lamarck 1801
superclass	Gnathostomata	Gegenbauer 1874
-	Osteichthyes
-	Sarcopterygii	Romer 1955
subclass	Dipnotetrapodomorpha
subclass	Tetrapodomorpha
-	Tetrapoda
-	Reptiliomorpha	Säve-Söderbergh 1934
-	Anthracosauria	Säve-Söderbergh 1934
-	Batrachosauria
-	Cotylosauria
-	Amniota	Haeckel 1866
-	Synapsida	Osborn 1903
-	Therapsida
infraorder	Cynodontia
-	Epicynodontia	Hopson and Kitching 2001
infraorder	Eucynodontia	Kemp 1982
-	Probainognathia	Hopson 1990
-	Mammaliamorpha	Rowe 1988
-	Mammaliaformes	Rowe 1988
class	Mammalia	Linnaeus 1758
subclass	Tribosphenida
infraclass	Eutheria
-	Placentalia	Owen 1837
-	Laurasiatheria	Waddell et al. 1999
-	Scrotifera	Waddell et al. 1999
-	Ferae	Linnaeus 1758
-	Carnivoramorpha	Wyss and Flynn 1993
-	Carnivoraformes	Flynn et al.
order	Carnivora	Bowditch 1821
suborder	Caniformia	Kretzoi 1943
family	Mustelidae	Fischer 1817
subfamily	Mustelinae	Fischer 1817
genus	Mustela	Linnæus 1758

Common Name

weasel

Scientific Name

Mustela Linnaeus, 1758

Name Published In

Linnæus, Carolus. 1758. Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Laurentii Salvii, Holmiae. Vol. Tomus I, Editio decima, reformata: i-ii, 1-824.

Opinions (PBDB)

Name	Rank	Opinion	Evidence	Author
Mustela	genus	belongs to Ferae	stated without evidence	Linnaeus, 1758
Mustela	genus	belongs to Mustelina	stated without evidence	Gray, 1825
Mustela	genus	belongs to Mustelinae	stated without evidence	Hay, 1902
Mustela	genus	belongs to Mustelidae	stated without evidence	Schultz and Howard, 1935
Mustela	genus	belongs to Mustelinae	stated without evidence	Bjork, 1970
Mustela	genus	belongs to Mustelidae	implied	Carroll, 1988
Mustela	genus	belongs to Mustelini	stated with evidence	Baskin, 1998
Mustela	genus	belongs to Mustelidae	stated without evidence	Seymour, 2004
Mustela	genus	belongs to Mustelinae	stated with evidence	Marmi et al., 2004
Mustela	genus	belongs to Mustelinae	stated without evidence	Baryshnikov, 2009
Mustela	genus	belongs to Mustelidae	stated without evidence	Werdelin and Peigne, 2010
Mustela	genus	belongs to Mustelinae	stated with evidence	Valenciano et al., 2018

Status (PBDB)

extant

Taxon Size (PBDB)

Extant Size (PBDB)

16 (57%)

First Recorded Appearance

20.4 - 16.0 Ma
Miocene

Environment

terrestrial (based on Eutheria)

Motility

actively mobile (based on Osteichthyes)

Diet

carnivore, omnivore (based on Mustelidae)

Taphonomy

phosphatic (based on Vertebrata)

Primary Reference (PBDB)

C. Linnaeus. 1758. Systema Naturae per Regna Tria Naturae, Secundum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, cum Characteribus, Differentiis, Synonymis, Locis. Editio Decima 1:1-824

Common Name(s)

Weasel, Ermines, Ferrets, Minks, Weasels

Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustela

External Images

Fossil Distribution

Subtaxa

Name	Status	Common Name(s)	Fossil Occurrences	Oldest	Youngest
Mustela (Lutreola) subgenus	listed (PBDB)
Mustela (Putorius) subgenus	listed (PBDB)	Polecat	8	5.33 Ma Miocene	0 Ma Extant
Mustela affinis species	accepted (GBIF)	No associated record in PBDB
Mustela africana species	accepted (GBIF)	No associated record in PBDB
Mustela altaica species	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		1	2.59 Ma Pleistocene	0 Ma Extant
Mustela aureoventris species	accepted (GBIF)	No associated record in PBDB
Mustela buwaldi species	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)
Mustela cicognanii species	accepted (GBIF)	No associated record in PBDB
Mustela erminea species	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)	Stoat	17	1.80 Ma Pleistocene	0 Ma Extant
Mustela eversmanii species	accepted (GBIF)	No associated record in PBDB
Mustela eversmannii species	listed (PBDB)		4	2.59 Ma Pleistocene	0 Ma Extant
Mustela felipei species	accepted (GBIF)	No associated record in PBDB
Mustela formosanus species	accepted (GBIF)	No associated record in PBDB
Mustela frenata species	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)	Long-tailed Weasel	29	4.90 Ma Pliocene	0 Ma Extant
Mustela furo species	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)	Ferret			0 Ma Extant
Mustela galinthias species	accepted (GBIF)	No associated record in PBDB
Mustela itatsi species	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)				0 Ma Extant
Mustela jacksoni ✝ species	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		1	2.59 Ma Pleistocene	2.59 Ma Pleistocene
Mustela jageri species	accepted (GBIF)	No associated record in PBDB
Mustela kathiah species	accepted (GBIF)	No associated record in PBDB
Mustela lutreola species	accepted (GBIF)	No associated record in PBDB
Mustela lutreolina species	accepted (GBIF)	No associated record in PBDB
Mustela melanopus species	accepted (GBIF)	No associated record in PBDB
Mustela meltoni ✝ species	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		1	4.90 Ma Pliocene	4.90 Ma Pliocene
Mustela moschiferus species	accepted (GBIF)	No associated record in PBDB
Mustela nigripes species	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)	Black-footed Ferret	12	1.80 Ma Pleistocene	0 Ma Extant
Mustela nivalis ✝ species	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		7	30.8 Ma Oligocene	16.9 Ma Miocene
Mustela nivalis species	listed (PBDB)	Least Weasel	24	2.59 Ma Pleistocene	0 Ma Extant
Mustela nudipes species	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)	Malayan Weasel			0 Ma Extant
Mustela ogygia ✝ species	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)
Mustela palaeattica ✝ species	listed (PBDB)		4	11.6 Ma Miocene	11.6 Ma Miocene
Mustela palermina ✝ species	listed (PBDB)
Mustela pentelici species	accepted (GBIF)	No associated record in PBDB
Mustela peregusna species	accepted (GBIF)	No associated record in PBDB
Mustela praenivalis ✝ species	listed (PBDB)		11	5.33 Ma Miocene	0.78 Ma Pleistocene
Mustela putorius species	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)	European Polecat	12	5.33 Ma Miocene	0 Ma Extant
Mustela quoll species	accepted (GBIF)	No associated record in PBDB
Mustela rexroadensis ✝ species	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)		10	10.3 Ma Miocene	4.90 Ma Pliocene
Mustela sibirica species	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)	Siberian Weasel	2	0.13 Ma Pleistocene	0 Ma Extant
Mustela spelaea ✝ species	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)
Mustela strigidorsa species	accepted (GBIF) listed (PBDB)				0 Ma Extant
Mustela subpalmata species	accepted (GBIF)	No associated record in PBDB
Mustela zanthogenys species	accepted (GBIF)	No associated record in PBDB

Obsolete Names

Name	Source	Taxon Rank	Taxonomy
Mustella Scopoli, 1777	GBIF	genus	Animalia : Chordata : Mammalia : Carnivora : Mustelidae : *Mustella*
Vison Gray, 1843	GBIF	genus	Animalia : Chordata : Mammalia : Carnivora : Mustelidae : *Vison*
Cynomyonax Coues, 1877	GBIF	genus	Animalia : Chordata : Mammalia : Carnivora : Mustelidae : *Cynomyonax*
Cynomyanax Elliot, 1904	GBIF	genus	Animalia : Chordata : Mammalia : Carnivora : Mustelidae : *Cynomyanax*
Pictorius Gray, 1865	GBIF	genus	Animalia : Chordata : Mammalia : Carnivora : Mustelidae : *Pictorius*
Grammogale Cabrera, 1940	GBIF	genus	Animalia : Chordata : Mammalia : Carnivora : Mustelidae : *Grammogale*
Cyanomyonax Trouessart, 1885	GBIF	genus	Animalia : Chordata : Mammalia : Carnivora : Mustelidae : *Cyanomyonax*
Faetorius Trouessart, 1885	GBIF	genus	Animalia : Chordata : Mammalia : Carnivora : Mustelidae : *Faetorius*
Kolonokus Satunin, 1911	GBIF	genus	Animalia : Chordata : Mammalia : Carnivora : Mustelidae : *Kolonokus*
Plesiogale Pocock, 1921	GBIF	genus	Animalia : Chordata : Mammalia : Carnivora : Mustelidae : *Plesiogale*
Gale Wagner, 1841	GBIF	genus	Animalia : Chordata : Mammalia : Carnivora : Mustelidae : *Gale*
Cabreragale Baryshnikov & Abramov, 1997	GBIF	genus	Animalia : Chordata : Mammalia : Carnivora : Mustelidae : *Cabreragale*
Foetorius Keyserling & Blasius, 1840	GBIF	genus	Animalia : Chordata : Mammalia : Carnivora : Mustelidae : *Foetorius*
Putorices Hodgson, 1836	GBIF	genus	Animalia : Chordata : Mammalia : Carnivora : Mustelidae : *Putorices*
Pocockictis Kretzoi, 1947	GBIF	genus	Animalia : Chordata : Mammalia : Carnivora : Mustelidae : *Pocockictis*
Cryptomustela Abramov, 1999	GBIF	genus	Animalia : Chordata : Mammalia : Carnivora : Mustelidae : *Cryptomustela*
Eumustela Acloque, 1899	GBIF	genus	Animalia : Chordata : Mammalia : Carnivora : Mustelidae : *Eumustela*
Ictis Kaup, 1829	GBIF	genus	Animalia : Chordata : Mammalia : Carnivora : Mustelidae : *Ictis*
Neogale Gray, 1865	GBIF	genus	Animalia : Chordata : Mammalia : Carnivora : Mustelidae : *Neogale*
Kolonocus Satunin, 1914	GBIF	genus	Animalia : Chordata : Mammalia : Carnivora : Mustelidae : *Kolonocus*
Arctogale Kaup, 1829	GBIF	genus	Animalia : Chordata : Mammalia : Carnivora : Mustelidae : *Arctogale*
Mustelina Bogdanow, 1871	GBIF	genus	Animalia : Chordata : Mammalia : Carnivora : Mustelidae : *Mustelina*
Hydromustela Bogdanow, 1871	GBIF	genus	Animalia : Chordata : Mammalia : Carnivora : Mustelidae : *Hydromustela*

Synonymy List

Year	Name and Author
1758	Mustela Linnaeus p. 45
1825	Mustela Gray p. 339
1902	Mustela Hay p. 767
1935	Mustela Schultz and Howard p. 283
1968	Mustela Kurten p. 98
1970	Mustela Bjork p. 16
1980	Mustela Kurten and Anderson p. 149

Year	Name and Author
1988	Mustela Carroll
1998	Mustela Baskin p. 164
2004	Mustela Marmi et al. p. 492
2004	Mustela Seymour
2009	Mustela Baryshnikov p. 86
2010	Mustela Werdelin and Peigne p. 621
2018	Mustela Valenciano et al.

References

Linnaeus C. , Systema Naturae per Regna Tria Naturae, Secundum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, cum Characteribus, Differentiis, Synonymis, Locis. Editio Decima 1, 1-824 doi:10.5962/bhl.title.542

Gray J. E. An outline of an attempt at the disposition of Mammalia into Tribes and Families, with a list of genera apparently appertaining to each Tribe, Annals of Philosophy, new series 10, 337-344

Hay O. P. (1902) , Bibliography and Catalogue of the Fossil Vertebrata of North America. Bulletin of the United States Geological Survey 179, 1-868

Schultz C. B., Howard E. B. (1935) The fauna of Burnet Cave, Guadalupe Mountains, New Mexico, Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 87, 273-298

Kurten B. (1968) Pleistocene Mammals of Europe, 1-317

Bjork P. R. (1970) The Carnivora of the Hagerman Local Fauna (Late Pliocene) of Southwestern Idaho, Transactions of the American Philosophical Society 60 7, 3-54

Kurten B., Anderson E. (1980) , Pleistocene mammals of North America, 1-442

Carroll R. L. (1988) , Vertebrate Paleontology and Evolution, 1-698

Baskin J. A. (1998) Mustelidae, Evolution of Tertiary mammals of North America, 152-173

Marmi J., López-Giráldez J. F., et al (2004) Phylogeny, evolutionary history and taxonomy of the Mustelidae based on sequences of the cytochrome b gene and a complex repetitive flanking region, Zoologica Scripta 33 6, 481-499

Seymour K. L. (2004) Pleistocene vertebrates from the pre-late Wisconsinan Mill Creek site, St. Clair County, Michigan, Michigan Academician 36, 181-211

Baryshnikov G. F. (2009) Pleistocene Mustelidae (Carnivora) from Paleolithic site in Kudaro Caves in the Caucasus, Russian Journal of Theriology 8 2, 75-95

Werdelin L., Peigne S. (2010) Carnivora, Cenozoic Mammals of Africa, 603-657

Valenciano A., Abella J., et al (2018) New Early Miocene Material of Iberictis, the Oldest Member of the Wolverine Lineage (Carnivora, Mustelidae, Guloninae), Journal of Mammalian Evolution doi:10.1007/s10914-018-9445-x

Hall, R. (2004) Däggdjur - via Dyntaxa. Svensk taxonomisk databas

Wilson, Don E., and DeeAnn M. Reeder, eds., 2005: null. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, 3rd ed., vols. 1 & 2. 2142. - via Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)

Harding, Larisa E., and Felisa A. Smith, 2009: Mustela or Vison? Evidence for the taxonomic status of the American mink and a distinct biogeographic radiation of American weasels. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, vol. 52, no. 3. 632-642. - via Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)

Wilson, Don E., and DeeAnn M. Reeder, eds., 1992: null. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, 2nd ed., 3rd printing. xviii + 1207. - via Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)

Banks, R. C., R. W. McDiarmid, and A. L. Gardner, 1987: Checklist of Vertebrates of the United States, the U.S. Territories, and Canada. Resource Publication, no. 166. 79. - via Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)

Nomenclator Zoologicus. A list of the names of genera and subgenera in zoology from the tenth edition of Linnaeus, 1758 to the end of 2004. Digitised by uBio from vols. 1-9 of Neave (ed.), 1939-1996 plus supplementary digital-only volume. http://ubio.org/NomenclatorZoologicus (as at 2006). - via The Interim Register of Marine and Nonmarine Genera

SN2000/McKenna & Bell, 1997 - via The Interim Register of Marine and Nonmarine Genera

Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M. (editors). (2005). Mammal Species of the World. A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd Ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. 2,142 pp. - via The Interim Register of Marine and Nonmarine Genera

SN2000/McKenna & Bell, 1997, PaleoDB - via The Interim Register of Marine and Nonmarine Genera

as per family (except Lontra, Enhydra) - via The Interim Register of Marine and Nonmarine Genera

Linnaeus, C. (1758). Systema Naturae per Regna Tria Naturae, Secundum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, cum Characteribus, Differentiis, Synonymis, Locis. 10th edition. - via The Interim Register of Marine and Nonmarine Genera

Data courtesy of: PBDB: The Paleobiology Database, Creative Commons CC-BY licenced. , GBIF: the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, various licences, iDigBio, various licences, and EOL: The Encyclopedia of Life (Open Data Public Domain). Because fossils are made of minerals too!

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