Japanese weasel

Japanese weasel (Mustela itatsi )

The Japan - weasel (Mustela itatsi ) is a predator of the marten family. It was partly as a subspecies of the fire weasel (Mustela sibirica ).

Features

The males reach a head and body length 28-39 cm, a tail length of 15.5 to 21 centimeters and a weight of 650-820 grams; fully grown they weigh almost twice as much as the females. In females, the head-body length is 25 to 30.5 inches, the tail length from 13.3 to 16.4 cm and weight 360-460 grams. The Japan - weasel has a long, slender body and short legs. The summer coat is dark brown, the winter coat brown almost yellowish. The upper lip and chin are white.

Dissemination

The distribution area extends across the Japanese islands of Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku, Sado, the Oki Islands, Izu Ōshima, Awaji -shima, Shodoshima, Iki, the Gotō Islands, Yakushima and Tanegashima. 1880, the Japan - Wiesel was naturalized on Hokkaidō. To reduce the populations of rats, it was introduced to more than 50 islands, including Sakhalin, Rishiri, Rebun, Miyake- jima, Hachijo -jima, Aogashima, Aoshima ( Nagasaki Prefecture ), Kuchino -shima, Nakano -shima, Suwanose -jima, Hira -jima, Akuseki jima, Kikai -shima, Okinoerabu -jima, Yoronjima ( in Kagoshima Prefecture ), Zamami, Nakajima, Minami- Daitō, Kita- Daitō, Irabu -jima, Iriomote and Hateruma ( of Okinawa Prefecture ).

Habitat

The Japan - weasel occurs in forests near water, sometimes near human settlements.

Way of life

The Japan Wiesel is nocturnal and is a loner in search of food. The diet consists of insects, fish, reptiles and small mammals, including rats. As a complement fruits in winter and spring as well as arthropods and crustaceans in the summer and autumn are added. Little is known about the mating behavior. The mating season is in late winter, the young are born in spring.

Status

The Japan Wiesel is common and is " not at risk " by the IUCN ( least concern ) classified.