Mustela subpalmata
Mustela subpalmata Hemprich and Ehrenberg, 1833
Common Names
Egyptian Weasel (English), العرسة المصرية (Arabic)
Overview
Description
The Egyptian weasel is a small, cylindrical weasel. Head small and triangular. Snout small, broad and pointed. Hair short and dense, chestnut to dark brown in the upperparts and creamy to white in the underparts. Ears small and rounded. Tail long, thin with heavy short hair. Hind limbs longer than forelimbs, each ending in 5 white digits with strong claws.
Conservation
Status in Egypt
Native, resident.
Description
Behaviour
Nocturnal mammal, spending day in underground holes or crevices. Feeds on small mammals (rodents, hares), birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and insects (especially red ants and bugs). Territorial and solitary species. Egyptian weasel female gives birth to litters of two to five young once or twice per year after a gestation period of 37 days and reaches sexual maturity after 4-8 months.
Size
Length: 23-30 cm. Weight: 220 gm.
Ecology and Distribution
Distribution in Egypt
Narrow (mainly northern Nile Valley and Delta).
Habitat
The Egyptian weasel almost completely commensal with man. Found in homes, buildings, agricultural areas and sometimes desert.