Colombian Weasel
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| Colombian Weasel | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Mustela felipei Izor and de la Torre, 1978 |
Colombian Weasel (Mustela felipei), also known as Don Felipe's Weasel, is very rare species of weasel only known with certainty from the departments of Huila and Cauca in Colombia, but it may also occur in nearby Ecuador.[1] Both its scientific and alternative common name honours the mammalogist Phillip "Don Felipe" Hershkowitz.[2]
It has a head and body length of about 22 cm (8,6 in), and a tail of about 11 cm (4,3 in).[1] The upperparts and tail are blackish-brown, while the underparts are orange-buff. The fur is fairly long.[3]
It appears to be largely restricted to riparian habitats at an altitude of 1700-2700 m (5600-8900 ft). There is extensive deforestation within its small range, and with only five known specimens, it is probably the rarest Carnivora in South America.[3] It is therefore considered endangered by IUCN.[4]
Very little is known about its behavior, but it has several features, among them extensive toe webbing, which suggests it has a semiaquatic lifestyle.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Eisenberg, J. F, and K. H. Redford. 1999. Mammals of the Neotropics - The Central Neotropics. Vol. 3. Chicago University Press, Chicago. ISBN 0-226-19542-2
- ^ Izor, R. J., and L. de la Torre. 1978. A New Species of Weasel (Mustela) from the Highlands of Colombia, with Comments on the Evolution and Distribution of South American Weasels. Journal of Mammalogy. Vol. 59(1): 92-102
- ^ a b c Novak, R. M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World. 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. ISBN 0801857899
- ^ Mustelid Specialist Group (1996). Mustela felipei. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 19 March 2008.
- Izor, R. J. y N. E. Peterson. 1985. Notes on South American weasels. Journal of Mammalogy 66: 788–790.
