What Are Mustelids?

Page last updated: 26/02/2024
Global geographic range of mustelids.
Introduced range in New Zealand.

Mustelidae (pronounced: muh·steh·luh·dai) is the largest family within the order Carnivora, and also one of the most successful—with distribution on all continents save for Antarctica and Australia, as well as the country of Madagascar and oceanic islands.(1)

Through adapting to niches in a vast variety of environments the mustelids have taken on an equally wide range of forms, while still having kept parts of the original design. Studying mustelids and how they function offers a rare glimpse into ancient times and evolution in effect.

According to current consensus, the family Mustelidae comprises eight subfamilies(2)

► Guloninae

The fisher (Pekania pennanti), tayra (Eira barbara), wolverine (Gulo gulo), and martens.

► Helictinae

Ferret-badgers

► Ictonychinae

The striped polecat (Ictonyx striatus), Saharan striped polecat (Ictonyx libycus), marbled polecat (Vormela peregusna), African striped weasel (Poecilogale albinucha), Patagonian weasel (Lyncodon patagonicus), and grisons.

► Lutrinae

Otters

► Melinae

True badgers

► Mellivorinae

Ratel, a.k.a. honey badger (Mellivora capensis)

► Mustelinae

True weasels

► Taxidiinae

North American badger (Taxidea taxus)

All weasels are mustelids but not all mustelids are weasels

Most people know at least one species of otter and maybe even a badger or two, but as for ferret-badgers, martens, the tayra, wolverine, etc., are all of these mustelids just weasels? Not exactly. In fact, many of these animals are grouped by genus and considered distinct species in the family Mustelidae. And although this family is often loosely referred to as the so-called “weasel family” fewer than half of the approximately 70 distinct mustelid species are weasels. To say or imply that all mustelids are weasels would be similar to saying all canids are dogs or that all procyonids are raccoons.

True weasels comprises those belonging to the genera Mustela and Neogale (a.k.a. subfamily: Mustelinae).(3)(4)(5)(6) While seemingly harmless, labelling all mustelids weasels can not only potentially spread behavioural misconceptions about non-weasel species (given the historical stigma associated with the word), such a broad generalisation can also in a sense undermine the family’s evolutionary differences and unique environmental struggles.

Some have misleading common names

With the black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) having “ferret” in its name despite not being an actual ferret (Mustela [putorius] furo), the fisher (Pekania pennanti) being called a “fisher cat” when it is neither a cat nor catches fish, the wolverine (Gulo gulo) being nicknamed a “glutton” when they are not gluttonous, and ferret-badgers being called… well, “ferret-badgers”, it is easy to understand why so many people unfamiliar with mustelids are confused over what they are and their nature. While we understand that these are just common names and nicknames, certain misnomers (especially when used in popular culture) have contributed to a giant confusing mess with often little to no clarity for those who seek it.

To be clear, we respect cultures and do not believe in telling others what they should call an animal. However, that does not change the reality that many common names and nicknames for mustelids in English are not only confusing, they can potentially be harmful when they lead to behavioural misconceptions or mistaken identity. While scientific names are helpful for clarity, it is unrealistic to expect the average person to pay attention to them or use them in casual conversation, especially since they are not always provided in media or arguably that memorable or pronounceable. This is why regardless of the reason a mustelid was given a particular name, on this website we feel it is important to let people know certain names can be misleading, so they can be better informed and help lesson much of the avoidable confusions.

A tip regarding “American” in mustelid common names

Whatever the definition or opinion of what it means to be an American, when it comes to mustelid common names in English, it is safe to say the term usually refers to the continent of North America. This is because the often so-called American marten (Martes americana), American mink (Neogale vison), and American stoat (Mustela richardsonii) are native to both the United States and Canada, with species like the American badger (Taxidea taxus) also being native to these countries and Mexico.

Many native English speakers only associate the term American with the United States, so it can mislead some into thinking these species are exclusively native to or found in said country. Of course there would be more clarity if these species simply had North added to their common names to undoubtedly refer to the continent (or northern half of the Americas), but this is usually not the case outside of our website. However, for some reason an exception is made for Lontra canadensis, which is often called the North American river otter.

They possess anal scent glands for communication

With the exception of the sea otter (Enhydra lutris),(7) all mustelids possess well-developed anal glands that produce a strong-smelling secretion for scent marking.(8) There is a common conception that the word Mustela is in reference to this musky odour, when it probably derives from the Latin words mus (mouse) and telum (spear),(9) among other possibilities.

The term mustelid also has nothing to do with scent, as sometimes believed. In fact, musk is not something that is even unique to mustelids. Ever smelled a red fox (Vulpes vulpes) or lesser anteater (Tamandua tetradactyla)? When not just comparing them to animals we are more familiar with such as dogs or cats, mustelids are not that much muskier than many other mammals.

They make a range of sounds

Most mustelids are stealthy and rarely make noise to give their location. However, when under threat or socialising, we may hear some of their unique vocalisations. There is a tendency for some to generalise all mustelids as “dookers”, when this is far from the case. Dooking is an onomatopoeia usually in reference to the chuckling vocalisation made by an excited ferret (Mustela [putorius] furo). Other mustelids are known to make similar to considerably different types of sounds when excited such as purring/clucking/barking (martens),(10) zheeping/low trilling/chattering (wild weasels),(11) and purring/humming/barking (otters).(12) It is not clear if these sounds are universal to subfamilies of their type.

If getting information from a documentary or amature media, be aware that filmmakers will sometimes add generic animal sounds to a film for effect. These sounds can sometimes be completely inaccurate to a species. An iconic example would be the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), where the vocalisations many have been conditioned to associate with them are actually that of the red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis).(13)

There is more on the menu than eggs, poultry, and fish

Similar to the misconception in popular culture that mice mainly or exclusively eat cheese and rabbits carrots, the diet of weasels and weasel-like species is sometimes stereotyped as only consisting of eggs, poultry, or rodents, as well as all otter species exclusively consuming fish. Many mustelids are opportunistic feeders and will eat a variety of foods depending on the season, their location, and perhaps even individual taste. The following are just a few foods certain subfamilies have been reported to consume (view our references for specific species certain foods apply to):

Melinae, Helictinae, Mellivorinae, and Taxidiinae: Amphibians, small reptiles, rodents, gastropods, invertebrates, eggs, fruits, nuts, seeds, roots, insects, mushrooms, and honey.(14)(15)(16) In the case of the ratel (Mellivora capensis), in some areas they will sometimes prey upon other small or young carnivores.(17)

Mustelinae, Ictonychinae, and Guloninae: Amphibians, small reptiles, crustaceans, invertebrates, rodents, birds, fish, moles, shrews, rabbits, hares, eggs, fruits, nuts, seeds, insects, mushrooms, honey, other small to large herbivores, and sometimes other small or young carnivores.(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)

Lutrinae: Amphibians, small reptiles, crustaceans, invertebrates, fish, insects, birds, and small mammals.(24)(25)

Their environmental struggles are often overlooked

Sometimes the constant focus on the aggression and predation habits of most mustelids is not only arguably monotonous (it should come as no surprise that wildlife can be aggressive and that predators kill other animals), it can also lead some people to assume that mustelids have it easy and are practically invincible in the wild. Often not enough attention is given to their daily struggles.

For instance, many mustelids sometimes put their lives at risk when trying to catch a meal and can sustain a paralysing or fatal injury from their prey, or even the surrounding elements. The hunt is not always successful. Many are also prey to a number of predators such as dogs, wolves, bobcats, coyotes, foxes, and birds of prey, with humans in particular being the greatest threat to nearly all species when it comes to habitat encroachment and destruction, overhunting, road traffic accidents, unregulated fur trade, and illegal trafficking. Like most wildlife, mustelids have to be very cautious animals to survive, and the often regurgitated and glorified assertion that they are “fearless” inaccurately implies they do not acknowledge danger. There is a reason they are often hard to spot even in areas where they are abundant.

Some scientists believe climate change is affecting the mortality of weasel species that change white for winter due to camouflage mismatch.(26)(27) Several species are also susceptible to morbidity and mortality due to canine distemper, amyloidosis, pulmonary and gastro-intestinal helminths, and bacterial respiratory infections.(28)(29) Most mustelids also live predominantly solitary lives with the female being solely responsible for rising their young—boldly risking their lives for the many mouths that depend on them for nourishment and protection.

If all the above was not enough, many species have both a high basal metabolic rate (BMR) and short gastrointestinal (GI) tract. So while they may be quick and efficient hunters, the trade off is that they are metabolically inefficient and will perish if they do not eat within a few hours throughout the day.(30) For some species, they are constantly on the brink of starvation in winter.(31)

References

  1. Wund, M. 2005. Mustelidae“. (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed 30 December, 2020.
  2. Law, Chris J., Graham J. Slater, and Rita S. Mehta. Lineage diversity and size disparity in Musteloidea: testing patterns of adaptive radiation using molecular and fossil-based methods“. Systematic Biology 67.1 (2018): 127-144. p. 133.
  3. Koepfli, Klaus-Peter, Kerry A. Deere, Graham J. Slater, Colleen Begg, Keith Begg, Lon Grassman, Mauro Lucherini, Geraldine Veron, and Robert K. Wayne. Multigene phylogeny of the Mustelidae: resolving relationships, tempo and biogeographic history of a mammalian adaptive radiation“. BMC biology 6.1 (2008): 10.
  4. Koepfli, Klaus-Peter, Jerry W. Dragoo, and Xiaoming Wang. The evolutionary history and molecular systematics of the Musteloidea. Biology and Conservation of Musteloids. Oxford University Press, Oxford (2017): 75-91. p. 80.
  5. Patterson, Bruce D., et al. On the nomenclature of the American clade of weasels (Carnivora: Mustelidae)“. Journal of Animal Diversity 3.2 (2021): 1-8.
  6. Merriam-Webster.com. Dictionary, Merriam-Webster. Weasel. Accessed 22 September, 2022.
  7. Kenyon, Karl W. (1969). “The Sea Otter in the Eastern Pacific Ocean”. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. p. 4.
  8. Hutchings, Michael R., and Piran CL White. Mustelid scent‐marking in managed ecosystems: implications for population management“. Mammal Review 30.3‐4 (2000): 157-169.
  9. King, Carolyn M., and Roger A. Powell. The Natural History of Weasels and Stoats: Ecology, Behavior, and Management. Oxford University Press, 2006. p. 3.
  10. Pruitt, C. H., and G. M. Burghardt. Communication in terrestrial carnivores: Mustelidae, Procyonidae, and Ursidae. How animals communicate (1977): 767-793.
  11. Huff, J. N., and E. O. Price. Vocalizations of the least weasel, Mustela nivalis. Journal of Mammalogy 49.3 (1968): 548-550.
  12. Mumm, Christina AS, and Mirjam Knörnschild. The vocal repertoire of adult and neonate giant otters (Pteronura brasiliensis). PloS one 9.11 (2014): e112562.
  13. Hay, Anne. Buffalo Bill Center of the West. 14 December, 2022. Eagle Sounds: What Does an Eagle Sound Like. Accessed 24 May, 2024.
  14. Shefferly, N. 1999. Taxidea taxus (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed 22 July, 2020.
  15. Jackson, S. 2015. Badger Pages: The ferret badgers (Melogale spp.) Badgers.org.uk. Archived from the original on 10 September, 2015. Accessed 01 September, 2020.
  16. Helgen, Kristofer M., Norman TL Lim, and Lauren E. Helgen. The hog-badger is not an edentate: systematics and evolution of the genus Arctonyx (Mammalia: Mustelidae), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, Volume 154, Issue 2 October, 2008, Pages 353–385.
  17. Begg, C., K. Begg, J. Du Toit, M. Mills. 2003. Sexual and seasonal variation in the diet and foraging behaviour of a sexually dimorphic carnivore, the honey badger (Mellivora capensis). Journal of Zoology, 260/3: 301-316. Accessed 08 January, 2023.
  18. Rhines, C. 2003. Martes pennanti (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed 22 February, 2021.
  19. Tatara, Masaya, and Teruo Doi. “Comparative analyses on food habits of Japanese marten, Siberian weasel and leopard cat in the Tsushima islands, Japan.” Ecological research 9.1 (1994): 99-107.
  20. Hajduk, L. I. 2008. “Space use and habitat selection of long-tailed weasels (Mustela frenata) in southern Illinois”. M.S., Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.
  21. Shak, M. 2012. Martes flavigula (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed 06 February, 2021.
  22. Otani, Tatsuya. “Seed dispersal by Japanese marten Martes melampus in the subalpine shrubland of northern Japan.” Ecological Research 17.1 (2002): 29-38.
  23. Youngman, Phillip M. (1990). “Mustela lutreola“, Archived 18 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Mammalian Species, American Society of Mammalogists, No. 362, pp. 1-3, 2 figs.
  24. Pagacz, Stanisław; Witczuk, Julia (2010). “Intensive exploitation of amphibians by Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) in the Wolosaty stream, southeastern Poland” (PDF). Annales Zoologici Fennici. 47 (6): 403–410. doi:10.5735/086.047.0604. S2CID 83809167.
  25. Yoxon, Paul, and Grace M. Yoxon. “Otters of the world”. Whittles Publishing, 2014.
  26. Atmeh, Kamal, Anna Andruszkiewicz, and Karol Zub. Climate change is affecting mortality of weasels due to camouflage mismatch. Scientific Reports 8.1 (2018): 7648.
  27. Mills, L. Scott, et al. Winter color polymorphisms identify global hot spots for evolutionary rescue from climate change. Science 359.6379 (2018): 1033-1036.
  28. Van Moll, P., et al. Distemper in wild carnivores: an epidemiological, histological and immunocytochemical study“. Veterinary microbiology 44.2-4 (1995): 193-199.
  29. Akdesir, E., Origgi, F.C., Wimmershoff, J. et al.Causes of mortality and morbidity in free-ranging mustelids in Switzerland: necropsy data from over 50 years of general health surveillance. BMC veterinary research 14.1 (2018): 1-19.
  30. King, Carolyn M. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Small Size to Weasels, Mustela Species”. Carnivore behavior, ecology, and evolution. Springer, Boston, MA, 1989. 302-334.
  31. Turbak, Gary. 01 February, 1992. Living Hungry. The National Wildlife Federation. Accessed 05 January, 2023.

What Are Mustelids?

Badgers | Ferret-Badgers | Fisher | Grisons | Martens | Otters | Tayra | Weasels | Wolverine