American Short-tailed Weasel
Mustela richardsonii
- Class
- Mammal
- Rarity
- Rare
- Observations
- 2,074
- Most observed in
- 🇨🇦 Canada
Description
The American ermine or American stoat (Mustela richardsonii) is a member of the family Mustelidae and of the genus mustelid. Previously thought of as conspecific with the stoat (M. erminea), they have a body plan typical of weasels and are native to most of North America. There are currently 13 recognized subspecies. American ermines are small carnivorous mammals that live in a variety of terrestrial habitats, such as forests and wetlands.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article “American ermine”.