Reference photo — Peter Trimming, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
#070
European Polecat
Mustela putorius
Challenging
Least concern
Not photographed yet
Distribution
Range
Loads map tiles and observation data from OpenStreetMap and GBIF.
Range: iNaturalist (CC BY 4.0) · Base map: Natural Earth (public domain)
Quick facts
- Group
- Mammals
- Family
- Mustelidae
- Size
- 29–46 cm (length)
- Weight
- 0.7–1.5 kg
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Lifespan
- 3–5 yrs
- Habitat
- Woodland edges, Farmland, Wetlands
About
The European polecat, also known as the black polecat and forest polecat, is a mustelid species occurring in Europe and the Rif mountains. It is of a generally dark brown colour, with a pale underbelly and a dark mask across the face. Occasionally, colour mutations including albinos, leucists, isabellinists, xanthochromists, amelanists, and erythrists occur.
Description from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0), abridged.