Amazon weasel
| Amazon weasel | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Mustelidae |
| Genus: | Neogale |
| Species: | N. africana
|
| Binomial name | |
| Neogale africana (Desmarest,1818)
| |
| |
| Amazon weasel range | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Mustela africana | |
TheAmazon weasel(Neogale africana), also known as thetropical weasel,is a species ofNew World weaselnative toSouth America.It was first identified from a museum specimen mislabelled as coming fromAfrica,hence the scientific name.[2]
Taxonomy
[edit]Originally described in the genusMustela,a 2021 study reclassified it into the genusNeogalealong with two other formerMustelaspecies, as well as the two species formerly classified inNeovison.[3]
Description
[edit]The largest of the three species of South American weasel, Amazon weasels measure 43 to 52 cm (17 to 20 in) in total length, including a tail 16 to 21 cm (6.3 to 8.3 in) long. They have a typical body form for weasels, with a long, slender, torso and short legs and ears. They have short fur which varies from reddish to dark brown on the upper body, and is pale orange-tan on the underparts. A stripe of fur the same colour as that on the upper body runs down the centre of the chest and throat. The whiskers are short and the soles of the feet almost hairless. Females have three pairs of teats.[2]
Distribution and habitat
[edit]Amazon weasels are known to inhabit theAmazon basinin north-centralBrazil,northernBoliviaand easternPeruandEcuador.[4]However, the full extent of their range is unknown, and they probably also inhabit southernColombia,Venezuelaandthe Guyanas.The region is covered bytropical rainforest,and, while detailed habitat preferences are unknown, the weasel has mostly been recovered near rivers.[1][2]
Two subspecies are recognised:[2]
- N. a. africana(northeastern Brazil)
- N. a. stolzmanni(northwestern Brazil, Peru, Ecuador)
Biology and behaviour
[edit]The Amazon weasel is rarely seen and little is known of its habits. They eatrodentsand othersmall mammals,[citation needed]and have been reported to construct burrows in thestumpsof hollow trees.[5]They have been found from sea level to 1,400 m (4,600 ft),[4]and have been reported to swim inriversorestuaries,sometimes far from the shore.[6]
Conservation status
[edit]The Amazon weasel is considered aData Deficientspecies because scientists know little about them.[7]Their population is unknown[2]and they have only been registered anywhere 24 times (as of July 2024).[4]An Amazon weasel had never been filmed until 2024, when some coffee producers captured a short video of an individual inBoliviaas part of acitizen sciencemonitoring program.[4]Despite the extremely small number of observations, Amazon weasels are listed as aLeast Concernspecies on theIUCN Red List of Threatened Speciesbecause scientists believe they still have a sizable population living in theAmazonian forest.[7]It is not known whether this species can handle anthropogenic disturbances in the environment[7]and their numbers may drop significantly in the future due to thedeforestation of the Amazon rainforest.[2]
References
[edit]- ^abEmmons, L.; Helgen, K. (2016)."Mustela africana".IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.2016:e.T14025A45200982.doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T14025A45200982.en.Retrieved14 March2022.
- ^abcdefRamírez-Chaves, H.E.; Arango-Guerra, H.L.; Patterson, B.D. (2014)."Mustela africana(Carnivora: Mustelidae) "(PDF).Mammalian Species.46(917): 110–115.doi:10.1644/917.1.
- ^Patterson, Bruce D.; Ramírez-Chaves, Héctor E.; Vilela, Júlio F.; Soares, André E. R.; Grewe, Felix (2021)."On the nomenclature of the American clade of weasels (Carnivora: Mustelidae)".Journal of Animal Diversity.3(2): 1–8.doi:10.52547/JAD.2021.3.2.1.ISSN2676-685X.S2CID236299740.
- ^abcdAnderson, Natali (2024-07-17)."Extremely Rare Amazon Weasel Captured on Video in Bolivia | Sci.News".Sci.News: Breaking Science News.Retrieved2024-07-22.
- ^Emmons, L.H. (1997).Neotropical Rainforest Mammals,2nd ed. University of Chicago PressISBN0-226-20721-8
- ^Tate, G.H.H. (August 1931). "Random observations on habits of South American mammals".Journal of Mammalogy.12(3): 248–256.doi:10.2307/1373874.JSTOR1373874.
- ^abcMattice, Ashley."Mustela africana (tropical weasel)".Animal Diversity Web.Retrieved2024-07-22.
