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
46.
Yellow-bellied Weasel
Mustela kathiah
French:
Belette a ventre jaune
/
German:
Gelbbauchwiesel
/
Spanish:
Comadreja china
Taxonomy.
Mustela kathiah Hodgson, 1835
,
Nepal
.
Monotypic.
Distribution.
Bhutan
, S & E
China
, N & NE
India
,
Laos
,
Myanmar
,
Nepal
, N
Thailand
, and
Vietnam
.
Descriptive notes.
Head-body
20-29 cm
, tail
13-18 cm
; weight
150-260 g
. The Yellow-bellied Weasel has a long, slender body and short limbs. The upperparts are dark chocolate to rusty brown; the underparts are pale yellow or light orange-brown. The chin and upper lip are whitish. The tail is bushy and the same color as the upperparts. Some white patches may occur on the feet.
Habitat.
Pine forests, up to
4000 m
(above the timber line). In Western Himalaya from
3000-5200 m
in the cold deserts, but in
Hong Kong
found in much lower altitudes, from close to sea-level to over
200 m
.
Food and Feeding.
Diet is said to include rodents, birds, eggs, lizards, frogs, insects, and fruit.
Activity patterns.
Nothing known.
Movements, Home range and Social organization.
Nothing known.
Breeding.
Nothing known.
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.
Bibliography.
Duckworth & Robichaud (2005), Francis (2008),
IUCN
(2008), Lekagul & McNeely (1991), Pocock (1941a), Wozencraft (2005, 2008).