The Egyptian weasel is a unique population of the least weaselendemic to northern Egypt. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.[1] It was formerly considered a distinct species, as Mustela subpalmata.
Due to its great resemblance to the least weasel (M. nivalis), the Egyptian weasel was only suggested to be a separate species in 1992, based on measures of skull sizes.[2] However, results of a phylogenetic study indicate that mitochondrial DNA supports the Egyptian weasel to be an isolated population of Mustela nivalis, namely the subspecies numidica, which occurs in other parts of the Mediterranean basin, rather than a distinct species, or even a subspecies.[3] The American Society of Mammalogists has since recognized it as conspecific with M. nivalis.[4]
Characteristics
Skull of an Egyptian weasel
The Egyptian weasel has short legs, a small head, and small ears. Its tail is long and thin. The weasel has a broad snout. The upper part of the body is brown and the lower part is cream-colored.[5]
The Egyptian weasel occurs in northern Egypt from Alexandria eastward to Port Said and southward through the delta and as far south as Beni Suef, located 115 km (71 mi) south of Cairo. It lives in the same places as humans, including cities and villages and has been described as an obligate synanthrope.[1]
Behaviour and ecology
The Egyptian weasel is omnivorous and includes a significant amount (~50%) of vegetables and fruit in its diet, as well as waste human food and animals including rodents, chicks of poultry, rabbits, fish and insects. Their varied and opportunistic diet reflects their opportunistic synanthropic lifestyle.[6] The males of the Egyptian weasel are solitary and highly territorial, marking the territorial boundaries with urine and faeces. The female may establish a territory within a male's territory within which she will make a nest in a cavity, wall crevice or rock pile. She defends this territory from other females.[5]
Reproduction
During courtship, the pair trill and chatter and copulation can be quite a loud affair. After copulating she may remain with the male or the pair may separate and seek other mates. The females gives birth in her nest to a litter of between four and nine young, up to three times a year, if food supply allows.[5][6]
Threats
At present, it is not considered threatened. Future potential threats are chemicals such as rodenticides, predation by domestic dogs and diseases.[1]
^van Zyll de Jong, C. G. (1992). "A morphometric analysis of cranial variation in Holarctic weasels (Mustela nivalis)". Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde. 57: 77–93.
^Rodrigues, M.; Bos, A.R.; Hoath, R.; Schembri, P.J.; Lymberakis, P.; Cento, M.; Ghawar, W.; Ozkurt, S.O.; Santos-Reis, M.; Merilä, J. & Fernandes, C. (2016). "Taxonomic status and origin of the Egyptian weasel (Mustela subpalmata) inferred from mitochondrial DNA". Genetica. 144 (2): 191–202. doi:10.1007/s10709-016-9889-y.
^"Explore the Database". www.mammaldiversity.org. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
^ abcd. Archived from the original on 2014-12-23. Retrieved 2014-12-11.
Media related to Mustela subpalmata at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Mustela subpalmata at Wikispecies
Nature.british-towns.net
McDonald, R.A.; Do Linh San, E. (2016). "Mustela subpalmata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T41660A65993325. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T41660A65993325.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
January 21, 2023
egyptian, weasel, unique, population, least, weasel, endemic, northern, egypt, listed, least, concern, iucn, list, formerly, considered, distinct, species, mustela, subpalmata, conservation, statusleast, concern, iucn, scientific, classificationkingdom, animal. The Egyptian weasel is a unique population of the least weasel endemic to northern Egypt It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List 1 It was formerly considered a distinct species as Mustela subpalmata Egyptian weaselConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass MammaliaOrder CarnivoraFamily MustelidaeGenus MustelaSpecies M nivalisSubspecies M n subpalmataTrinomial nameMustela nivalis subpalmataHemprich amp Ehrenberg 1833Egyptian weasel rangeSynonymsMustela subpalmata Hemprich amp Ehrenberg 1833In Cairo Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Characteristics 3 Distribution and habitat 4 Behaviour and ecology 4 1 Reproduction 5 Threats 6 References 7 External linksTaxonomy EditDue to its great resemblance to the least weasel M nivalis the Egyptian weasel was only suggested to be a separate species in 1992 based on measures of skull sizes 2 However results of a phylogenetic study indicate that mitochondrial DNA supports the Egyptian weasel to be an isolated population of Mustela nivalis namely the subspecies numidica which occurs in other parts of the Mediterranean basin rather than a distinct species or even a subspecies 3 The American Society of Mammalogists has since recognized it as conspecific with M nivalis 4 Characteristics Edit Skull of an Egyptian weasel The Egyptian weasel has short legs a small head and small ears Its tail is long and thin The weasel has a broad snout The upper part of the body is brown and the lower part is cream colored 5 Sizes for the Egyptian weasel are 5 Male head body length 36 1 43 cm Female head body length 32 6 39 cm Male tail length 10 9 12 9 cm Female tail length 9 4 11 cm Male weight 60 130g Female weight 45 60g Distribution and habitat EditThe Egyptian weasel occurs in northern Egypt from Alexandria eastward to Port Said and southward through the delta and as far south as Beni Suef located 115 km 71 mi south of Cairo It lives in the same places as humans including cities and villages and has been described as an obligate synanthrope 1 Behaviour and ecology EditThe Egyptian weasel is omnivorous and includes a significant amount 50 of vegetables and fruit in its diet as well as waste human food and animals including rodents chicks of poultry rabbits fish and insects Their varied and opportunistic diet reflects their opportunistic synanthropic lifestyle 6 The males of the Egyptian weasel are solitary and highly territorial marking the territorial boundaries with urine and faeces The female may establish a territory within a male s territory within which she will make a nest in a cavity wall crevice or rock pile She defends this territory from other females 5 Reproduction Edit During courtship the pair trill and chatter and copulation can be quite a loud affair After copulating she may remain with the male or the pair may separate and seek other mates The females gives birth in her nest to a litter of between four and nine young up to three times a year if food supply allows 5 6 Threats EditAt present it is not considered threatened Future potential threats are chemicals such as rodenticides predation by domestic dogs and diseases 1 References Edit a b c d McDonald R amp Hoffmann M 2016 Mustela subpalmata IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T41660A65993325 van Zyll de Jong C G 1992 A morphometric analysis of cranial variation in Holarctic weasels Mustela nivalis Zeitschrift fur Saugetierkunde 57 77 93 Rodrigues M Bos A R Hoath R Schembri P J Lymberakis P Cento M Ghawar W Ozkurt S O Santos Reis M Merila J amp Fernandes C 2016 Taxonomic status and origin of the Egyptian weasel Mustela subpalmata inferred from mitochondrial DNA Genetica 144 2 191 202 doi 10 1007 s10709 016 9889 y Explore the Database www mammaldiversity org Retrieved 2021 07 01 a b c d Egyptian Weasel Mustela Subpalmata Archived from the original on 2014 12 23 Retrieved 2014 12 11 a b Mustela subpalmata Animal Diversity Web Retrieved 2016 11 14 External links Edit Media related to Mustela subpalmata at Wikimedia Commons Data related to Mustela subpalmata at Wikispecies Nature british towns net McDonald R A Do Linh San E 2016 Mustela subpalmata IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T41660A65993325 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 1 RLTS T41660A65993325 en Retrieved 20 November 2021 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Egyptian weasel amp oldid 1120837688, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
