Mustela itatsi

IUCN

Alias：Mustela itatsi,Japanese Weasel

Basic Information

Scientific classification

name：Mustela itatsi
Aliases：Mustela itatsi,Japanese Weasel
Outline：Carnivora
Family：mustelae genus

Vital signs

length：45-52cm
Weight：About 400g
lifetime：2-8years

Feature

The fur on the upper body is usually golden yellow, with a lighter color on the belly and a darker color on the face.

Details

Japanese weasel (scientific name: Mustela itatsi) is a species of weasel in the family Mustela, class Mammalia, with no subspecies.

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Japanese weasel (Mustela itatsi) is a mammal in the family Mustela, once considered a subspecies of weasel. However, in 2011, studies of the skull morphology, body shape, coloration, and penis bones of the Japanese weasel documented interspecific and sexual differences between the Japanese weasel and the yellow weasel, as well as significant genetic differences, and all led to the Japanese weasel being recognized as a distinct species. In 2012, the Japanese weasel was upgraded from a subspecies to a separate species.

The Japanese weasel is a solitary animal that usually acts alone, except during mating season. They are very territorial and actively defend their home against intruders. The Japanese weasel is capable of defending itself against larger animals, especially dominant males. In addition, it emits a strong scent to deter attackers when cornering and when in danger.

The Japanese weasel is an experienced and professional hunter that will pursue its prey by any means, including following tunnels, climbing trees, or swimming. Anywhere prey can go, Japanese weasels will follow them, with a high hunting success rate. They are both diurnal and nocturnal. Regardless of day and night.

To communicate with other weasels or other animals, Japanese weasels use two main modes of communication: chemical and acoustic. Individuals secrete a substance called musk from their characteristic anal glands for chemical communication. Weasels are a very territorial species, establishing territorial boundaries by rubbing their glands on their pathways and obstacles such as rocks. Scent marking conveys information about sex, age, social status, health, and reproductive status.

Japanese weasels can make a wide variety of sounds. Mainly including low-intensity trills, bark rubbing, screams, and hisses. When female weasels are with their pups, trills usually indicate comfort. When there is no danger, chirping is another satisfying call. Growling, screaming, and hissing all indicate impending danger.

Due to the wide range of habitats that Japanese weasels can live in, they also have a wide range of prey choices. Japanese weasels prefer to capture live prey, such as rodents, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and some crustaceans. These weasels are also bird nest raiders, preferring bird eggs or chicks. A common prey item is the Japanese tree warbler. When prey is scarce, they also eat a variety of fruits and berries. The large size difference between males and females also leads to sexual segregation in their food choices: males are more specialized in mammals and crustaceans, while females are generalists, consuming a variety of foods such as insects and fruits. When food is abundant, Japanese weasels often store food for later use.

The mating process of Japanese weasels begins with males finding females by sniffing and analyzing their scent markings. Once a suitable female is found, a mixture of play and biting will occur, from a few hours to a few days. When the female is ready, she allows the male to bite her neck and immobilize her. Mating is brief but occurs multiple times per pair. Once mating is complete, the mates separate and will likely never see each other again.

Mating occurs between early May and late June in Japanese ferrets. However, if food is particularly plentiful, mating may continue into August, with a second litter produced throughout the season. The gestation period takes about 30 days. The number of pups varies from 2-12, but is usually 5-6. It takes 8 weeks for the pups to be fully weaned and independent. Sexual maturity is achieved at one year of age.

The female is responsible for all pup care from conception to independence. Once mating is complete, the male leaves the female. Female weasels build nests in abandoned burrows or log hollows using grass, feathers, and animal fur. As soon as the pups are born, the mother feeds them with milk until they are old enough to eat meat. Once the young weasels are old enough to move around, they practice valuable hunting skills through play behaviors. Soon after, they follow their mother on hunts. Once they are able to hunt on their own, they are considered independent and leave their mother's protection to find their own territory. The lifespan of the Japanese weasel is similar to other members of the genus Mustela. In captivity, lifespan is up to 8 years. Lifespan in the wild depends largely on food availability. Average lifespan is probably 2-3 years.

The wild population of the Japanese weasel is declining and they have disappeared from the lowlands of western Japan (Sasaki et al., 2014). The species is listed as "endangered" on the Red List in 10 prefectures in western Japan (2014). The Japanese weasel is not adapted to urban life and does not eat artificial foods. Through competition with introduced yellow weasels, the small female Japanese weasel may have difficulty reproducing in the lowlands of western Japan and has retreated to the hilly areas of Japan. Even without the introduction of potential competitors, the species may not be able to fully adapt to the various anthropogenic impacts in this part of Japan. The Japanese weasel and yellow weasel are phylogenetically close, which increases the possibility of their hybridization. However, no morphologically intermediate individuals were found among 15 yellow weasels monitored in northern Kyushu, Shikoku, and western Honshu in 2012, suggesting that hybridization may not pose a threat.

Listed on the 2016 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, ver 3.1 - Near Threatened (NT).

In Japan, female Japanese weasels are protected by law from hunting (2006).

Protect wild animals and stop eating game.

Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!

Location

The Japanese weasel is endemic to Japan and is native to Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku, Sado, Oki Islands, Izu Oshima, Awaji, Suta, Iki, Goto, Yaku and Tana. It was introduced to Hokkaido in the 1880s and was introduced to about 50 small islands in Japan, including Hitachi Island, Ruiben Island, Izu Island (Miyake Island, Yae Island, Aoka Island), Qingdao (Nagasaki Prefecture), Kuchino Island, Nakano Island, Suwanze Island, Shira Island, Akuseki Island, Chika Island, Okinawa Island, Uren Island (Kagoshima Prefecture), Sami Island, Aka Island, Otoshi Island, Kitadaito Island, Irabu Island, Iriomat Island and Hatruma Island (Okinawa Prefecture).
The Japanese weasel lives at altitudes from sea level to 336 meters. It has adapted to a wide variety of ecosystems in Japan and is commonly found in most habitats in Japan, including grasslands, forests, villages and suburbs, but does not usually occur in large cities and sometimes lives near human residential areas. But mainly in mountainous and f

Form

The Japanese weasel is a larger weasel, with adult males measuring between 45-52cm from head to tail and weighing an average of 400g. The Japanese weasel has the most sexual dimorphism of the genus, with females generally being smaller, only 68% of the male's body length and only 30% of the body weight. The Japanese weasel, like all weasels, has an elongated body, which is well suited for navigating tunnels and caves and getting into tight spaces. The legs are short, with a stocky head and neck. Their fur is usually golden yellow on their upper body, with a lighter colour on their belly and a darker colour on their face. Before winter arrives, in response to the shortening of daylight hours, the weasel stops producing melanin, and their fur turns white and thicker in preparation for the winter.

Mustela itatsi

Basic Information

Scientific classification

Vital signs

Feature

Details

Location

Form

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