Mustelidae
Author
Don E. Wilson
Author
Russell A. Mittermeier
text
2009
2009-01-31
Lynx Edicions
Barcelona
Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 1 Carnivores
564
656
book chapter
http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5714044
df4b6a3c-ae64-4bcf-a990-77fc6599759c
978-84-96553-49-1
5714044
51.
Malay Weasel
Mustela nudipes
French:
Putois a pieds nus
/
German:
NacktfuRwiesel
/
Spanish:
Comadreja descalza
Taxonomy.
Mustela nudipes Desmarest, 1822
,
Indonesia
.
Monotypic.
Distribution.
Borneo, Peninsular
Malaysia
, Sumatra, and S
Thailand
.
Descriptive notes.
Head-body
30-36 cm
, tail
24-26 cm
; weight
1000 g
. The Malay Weasel has a long, slender body and short limbs. The pelage is reddish-brown, almost orange throughout, with the head much paler than the rest of the body, often appearing white. The tail is long and bushy; the basal half is the same color as the back, but the distal halfis typically all white. The soles of the feet are naked around the pads. There are two pairs of mammae.
Habitat.
Rainforests, with records from
400 to 1700 m
. Often found in close proximity to water.
Food and Feeding.
Diet includes small mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles.
Activity patterns.
Apparently active both day and night. Rests in holes underground.
Movements, Home range and Social organization.
Said to be solitary and terrestrial.
Breeding.
Litter size reported to be up to four.
Status and Conservation.
Classified as Least Concern in The
IUCN
Red List. This is a poorly known species and field studies are needed to learn more about its natural history, ecology, and conservation status. It is eaten in parts of
Sarawak
and there is some evidence of medicinal use.
Bibliography.
Banks (1949), Duckworth et al. (2006), Francis (2008), Franklin & Wells (2005),
IUCN
(2008), Lekagul & McNeely (1991), Payne et al. (1985), Wozencraft (2005).