Amazon weasel
The Tropical Weasel (Mustela africana ) is a predatory species of the marten family. The species is widespread in the Amazon Basin in South America.
Features
The Tropical Weasel reaches a head-body length of 24-38 cm and a tail length of 16 to 21 centimeters. The body is long and slender with short legs. The coat is reddish to dark brown in color, the ventral side is lighter and has a stripe along the belly in the color of the back. The tail is uniformly brown. The toes are hand almost hairless.
Distribution and habitat
The Tropical Weasel is widespread in the Amazon Basin in South America and is present there in parts of Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, southern Colombia and northern Bolivia. The exact limits of the range are unknown, as only a few have described.
As a habitat, the animals use the humid and tropical rainforest areas along the river systems.
Way of life
About the lifestyle of the tropical weasel has no information. In his diet, it probably resembles other weasel species. Individual observations on the day indicate a diurnal lifestyle. It probably live primarily on the ground, but it is also a good swimmer and climber.
System
The Tropical Weasel is assigned as a distinct species of the genus Mustela within the marten, which is on the current status of 17 species. Together with the Colombian weasel (M. felipei ) is the way the sub-genus of South American weasel, which is partly regarded as a separate genus Grammogale.
Threat and protection
The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources ( IUCN) classified the species as not at risk (least concern), despite the absence of the stocks little information. It justifies this with the large distribution area in which the species occurs. Potential declines in stocks are not regarded as a going concern risk.
The main threat to this species are unclear. Is called the loss of habitat due to lower sales of tropical rain forests in the Amazon basin.