Patagonian Weasel

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Patagonian weasel

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Mustelidae
Genus:	Lyncodon Gervais, 1845
Species:	L. patagonicus

Binomial name

Lyncodon patagonicus
( de Blainville, 1842)

Subspecies

L. p. patagonicus de Blainville, 1842
L. p. thomasi Cabrera, 1928

Synonyms

Mustela patagonica de Blainville, 1842

The Patagonian Weasel (Lyncodon patagonicus) is a small mustelid that is the only member of the genus Lyncodon. Its geographic range is the Pampas of western Argentina and sections of Chile. An early mention of the animal is in the Journal of Syms Covington, who sailed with Charles Darwin on his epic voyage aboard the HMS Beagle.

[edit] Description

The Patagonian Weasel has a head and body length of 300-350 mm (11.8 - 13.8 inches), with a 60-90 mm (2.4 - 3.5 in) tail. Its fur is whitish with black and dark brown tones mixed in. It has small ears, short legs and a bushy tail. The animal has not been thoroughly studied in the wild, and knowledge of its behavioral patterns are sketchy. It reportedly has been kept as a working pet by local ranchers to destroy rodents.

[edit] Sources

Wikispecies has information related to:

Lyncodon

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Extant species of family Mustelidae

Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Mammalia · Order: Carnivora · Suborder: Caniformia

Lutrinae

Aonyx	African Clawless Otter (Aonyx capensis) · Oriental Small-clawed Otter (Aonyx cinerea)

Enhydra	Sea otter (Enhydra lutris)

Lontra	Northern River Otter (Lontra canadensis) · Southern River Otter (Lontra provocax) · Neotropical River Otter (Lontra longicaudis) · Marine Otter (Lontra felina)

Lutra	Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) · Hairy-nosed Otter (Lutra sumatrana)

Hydrictis	Speckle-throated Otter (Hydrictis maculicollis)

Lutrogale	Smooth-coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata)

Pteronura	Giant Otter (Pteronura brasiliensis)

Melinae

Arctonyx	Hog Badger (Arctonyx collaris)

Meles	Eurasian Badger (Meles meles)

Melogale	Everett's Ferret Badger (Melogale everetti) · Chinese Ferret Badger (Melogale moschata) · Javan Ferret-badger (Melogale orientalis) · Burmese Ferret Badger (Melogale personata)

Mydaus	Palawan Stink Badger (Mydaus marchei) · Javan Stink Badger (Mydaus javanensis)

Mellivorinae

Mellivora

Honey Badger (Mellivora capensis)

Taxideinae

Taxidea

American Badger (Taxidea taxus)

Mustelinae

Eira	Tayra (Eira barbara)

Galictis	Lesser Grison (Galictis cuja) · Greater Grison (Galictis vittata)

Gulo	Wolverine (Gulo gulo)

Ictonyx	Saharan Striped Polecat (Ictonyx libyca) · Striped Polecat (Ictonyx striatus)

Lyncodon	Patagonian Weasel (Lyncodon patagonicus)

Martes	American Marten (Martes americana) · Yellow-throated Marten (Martes flavigula) · Beech Marten (Martes foina) · Nilgiri Marten (Martes gwatkinsii) · Pine Marten (Martes martes) · Japanese Marten (Martes melampus) · Fisher (Martes pennanti) · Sable (Martes zibellina)

Mustela	Tropical Weasel (Mustela africana) · Mountain Weasel (Mustela altaica) · Stoat (Mustela erminea) · Steppe Polecat (Mustela eversmannii) · Colombian Weasel (Mustela felipei) · Taiwan high-mountain least weasel (Mustela formosana) · Long-tailed Weasel (Mustela frenata) · Japanese weasel (Mustela itatsi) · Yellow-bellied Weasel (Mustela kathiah) · European Mink (Mustela lutreola) · Indonesian Mountain Weasel (Mustela lutreolina) · Black-footed Ferret (Mustela nigripes) · Least Weasel (Mustela nivalis) · Malayan Weasel (Mustela nudipes) · European Polecat (Mustela putorius) · Siberian Weasel (Mustela sibirica) · Black-striped Weasel (Mustela strigidorsa) · Egyptian weasel (Mustela subpalmata) · American Mink (Mustela vison)

Poecilogale	African Striped Weasel (Poecilogale albinucha)

Vormela	Marbled Polecat (Vormela peregusna)