Mustela subpalmata

Egyptian Weasel (scientific name: Mustela subpalmata), foreign name Egyptian Weasel, no subspecies.

The Egyptian weasel species population is thought to have occurred in northern and eastern Israel since the Ice Age, where there are traces of more widespread populations, such as fossils found at Shaar Ha'amaqim. It was once a subspecies of the weasel and was named Mustela nivalis subpalmata. Since 2000, it has been gradually recognized in the literature as a separate species, Mustela subpalmata, and was given species status in 2005. This new taxonomy is based on the species' unique skull morphology, large body size and low degree of sexual dimorphism. The Egyptian mustelid population has been isolated from the European mustelids since the last glacial period.

The Egyptian mustelid is usually solitary. It is fast and agile. It has good vision, hearing and smell.

Egyptian weevils catch a variety of small rodents, insects, fish and birds. In contrast to their European relatives living in cities, rodents apparently do not play a major role in their diet. Due to the high proportion of fruits and vegetables, including grapes, dates, wheat (bread) and beans (about 50%). This diet emphasizes the opportunistic lifestyle of this species, living in urban spaces with many markets and food stores. Their diet includes some small mammals (rats, mice and rabbits (2%), chicks and ducklings (23%), fish leftovers (1%) and insects such as cockroaches (11%). In addition, they will scavenge human food remnants from garbage bins and garbage dumps.

Egyptian ferrets usually mate in early spring. The gestation period of females is 35-37 days. Each litter has 3-7 pups. The lactation period is about 50 days. Sexual maturity is reached at 4 months of age. Lifespan is 10 years. Egyptian ferrets have a polymorphic mating system, which is a promiscuous mating system. This means that both males and females have multiple matings with multiple partners. Each individual is solitary and territorial. Males are more playful than females, and usually overlap with several females. The two sexes avoid each other except during the breeding season, as females obey males in most years. The opposite happens during the breeding season, when females vigorously defend unwanted males. Egyptian ferrets use urine and glandular secretions to mark their respective territories, and courtship during the breeding season is accompanied by trembling and chattering voices. After mating, the two sexes will rest together or separately, and either continue to mate or find a new partner.

The breeding season of Egyptian ferrets occurs from April to August or from August to December. Female Egyptian ferrets only mate when they reach full estrus and mating is active, loud and prolonged. External physical stimulation is required to induce ovulation. The male penis plays a key role in ovulation, as ovulation only occurs when the male penis stimulates the female to mate. The female's gestation period is 4-5 weeks. At this time, they will use any openings in the building nest, such as cracks in the wall. Depending on the availability of food, 2-3 litters can be produced each year, with 4-9 pups in each litter. The pups are helpless and naked, and the lactation period is 4-7 weeks. They grow up to go out hunting in about 10 weeks after birth and become independent adolescents shortly thereafter. Egyptian ferrets reach sexual maturity 4-8 months after birth.

Listed in the 2016 Red List of Endangered Species of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) ver 3.1——Least Concern (LC).

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The Egyptian weasel is endemic to Egypt. Its range extends from Port Said and Alexandria in the north to Cairo and Fayoum in the south.
The Egyptian weasel lives in the same areas as humans, including urban, rural and agricultural areas. It also uses fallen logs, rock caves, grass and earth holes as hiding places.

The Egyptian weasel has a head and body length of 32.6-39 cm; the male tail is 10.9-12.9 cm long, and the female tail is 9.4-11 cm long; the male weighs 60-130 grams, and the female weighs 45-60 grams. It is a common species of the genus Mustela.
The body is slender. The ears are round and small. The skull is small and narrow. The snout is very short. The width between cheek teeth is slightly equal to the width between orbits. The nasal bone is triangular, and the end ends at the front edge of the frontal bone. The postorbital process is obvious and triangular. The zygomatic arch is thin and weak. The zygomatic width is slightly larger than the width of the back head. The sagittal ridge and the herringbone ridge are obvious. The anterior orbital foramen is slightly larger. The auditory bulla is large and flat and oblong. The lower jaw is slightly curved, the angular process is very small, and the coronoid process is triangular. The limbs are short and plantar walking, the soles of t