Stoat
Mustela erminea
Where is it found?
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Forests
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Grassland
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Diet and foraging method
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Stoats mesmerise their prey by dancing around them, before nipping in for the kill.
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Key adaptations
Stoats have a thin, agile body that allows it to move both swiftly above ground and through underground tunnels. They also have very sharp teeth to help kill prey.
Social organisation and mating system
Solitary
Promiscuous
Did you know that...?
The colour of their fur depends on the season. In summer it is ginger brown, but in winter turns white all over.
Taxonomy
Picture credits:
Maps from: http://species.mol.org/species/
"A Stoat, Mustela erminea in wild Jispa, Himachal Pradesh India" by soumyajit nandy from Kolkata, India - Stoat | Jispa, Himachal Pradesh. Licenced under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_Stoat,_Mustela_erminea_in_wild_Jispa,_Himachal_Pradesh_India.jpg#/media/File:A_Stoat,_Mustela_erminea_in_wild_Jispa,_Himachal_Pradesh_India.jpg
"Mustela Erminea head" by Keven Law from Los Angeles, USA - Hello World.... Licenced under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mustela_Erminea_head.jpg#/media/File:Mustela_Erminea_head.jpg
"Горностай выглядывает из снега" by Kalabaha1969 - Own work. Licenced under CC0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%D0%93%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%B9_%D0%B2%D1%8B%D0%B3%D0%BB%D1%8F%D0%B4%D1%8B%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%B5%D1%82_%D0%B8%D0%B7_%D1%81%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%B3%D0%B0.JPG#/media/File:%D0%93%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%B9_%D0%B2%D1%8B%D0%B3%D0%BB%D1%8F%D0%B4%D1%8B%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%B5%D1%82_%D0%B8%D0%B7_%D1%81%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%B3%D0%B0.JPG
"Hermine fin hiver" by George Chèvre - Own work. Licenced under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hermine_fin_hiver.jpeg#/media/File:Hermine_fin_hiver.jpeg
"A Stoat, Mustela erminea in wild Jispa, Himachal Pradesh India" by soumyajit nandy from Kolkata, India - Stoat | Jispa, Himachal Pradesh. Licenced under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_Stoat,_Mustela_erminea_in_wild_Jispa,_Himachal_Pradesh_India.jpg#/media/File:A_Stoat,_Mustela_erminea_in_wild_Jispa,_Himachal_Pradesh_India.jpg
"Mustela Erminea head" by Keven Law from Los Angeles, USA - Hello World.... Licenced under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mustela_Erminea_head.jpg#/media/File:Mustela_Erminea_head.jpg
"Горностай выглядывает из снега" by Kalabaha1969 - Own work. Licenced under CC0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%D0%93%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%B9_%D0%B2%D1%8B%D0%B3%D0%BB%D1%8F%D0%B4%D1%8B%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%B5%D1%82_%D0%B8%D0%B7_%D1%81%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%B3%D0%B0.JPG#/media/File:%D0%93%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%B9_%D0%B2%D1%8B%D0%B3%D0%BB%D1%8F%D0%B4%D1%8B%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%B5%D1%82_%D0%B8%D0%B7_%D1%81%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%B3%D0%B0.JPG
"Hermine fin hiver" by George Chèvre - Own work. Licenced under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hermine_fin_hiver.jpeg#/media/File:Hermine_fin_hiver.jpeg