The Egyptian weasel (Mustela subpalmata) is a species of weasel that lives in northern Egypt. It is rated "Least Concern" by the IUCN Red List.

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Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Mustelidae
Subfamily: Mustelinae
Genus: 'Mustela'
Species: ''M. subpalmata''
Binomial name
Mustela subpalmata
Egyptian weasel range

Description

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Egyptian weasel skull

!!The Egyptian weasel has short legs, a small head, and small ears. Its tail is long and thin. The weasel has a broad snout. The upper part of the body is brown and the lower part is cream-colored.

Sizes for the Egyptian Weasels are:[2] -Male head-body length: 36.1–43 cm -Female head-body length: 32.6–39 cm -Male tail length: 10.9-12.9 cm -Female tail length: 9.4–11 cm -Male weight: 60-130g -Female weight: 45-60g.

The Egyptian weasel is so similar to the least weasel (Mustela nivalis) that it was only discovered to be a separate species as recently as 1992.

Habitat and Life History

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The Egyptian weasel lives in the same places as humans, including cities and villages. It is mostly nocturnal. The female Egyptian weasel can have up to three litters a year. She gives birth to four to nine kits at a time.

Diet

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The Egyptian Weasel is a carnivore and eats mostly mice, rats, and lizards. When food is scarce they even eat insects.[3]

References

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  1. ^ Template:IUCN2008 Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is of least concern
  2. ^ "Egyptian Weasel (Mustela Subpalmata)".
  3. ^ "Cairo is a Weasel's playpen by night".
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