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Stoat

Mustela erminea


Where is it found?

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Forests
Grassland

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

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Solitary
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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

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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

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