Mustela kathiah, Linnaeus, 1758

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2009, Mustelidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 1 Carnivores, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 564-656 : 651-652

46.

Yellow-bellied Weasel

Mustela kathiah

French: Belette a ventre jaune / German: Gelbbauchwiesel / Spanish: Comadreja china

Taxonomy. Mustela kathiah Hodgson, 1835 ,

Nepal.

Monotypic.

Distribution. Bhutan, S & E China, N & NE India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, N Thailand, and Vietnam.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 20-29 cm, tail 13-18 cm; weight 150-260 g. The Yellow-bellied Weasel has a long, slender body and short limbs. The upperparts are dark chocolate to rusty brown; the underparts are pale yellow or light orange-brown. The chin and upper lip are whitish. The tail is bushy and the same color as the upperparts. Some white patches may occur on the feet.

Habitat. Pine forests, up to 4000 m (above the timber line). In Western Himalaya from 3000-5200 m in the cold deserts, but in Hong Kong found in much lower altitudes, from close to sea-level to over 200 m.

Food and Feeding. Diet is said to include rodents, birds, eggs, lizards, frogs, insects, and fruit.

Activity patterns. Nothing known.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Nothing known.

Breeding. Nothing known.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern in The IUCN Red List. This is a poorly known species and field studies are needed to learn more about its natural history, ecology, and conservation status.

Bibliography. Duckworth & Robichaud (2005), Francis (2008), IUCN (2008), Lekagul & McNeely (1991), Pocock (1941a), Wozencraft (2005, 2008).

Figures

39. Amazon Weasel (Mustela africana), 40. Altai Mountain Weasel (Mustela altaica), 41. Ermine (Mustela erminea), 42. Steppe Polecat (Mustela eversmanai), 43. Colombian Weasel (Mustela feliper), 44. Long-tailed Weasel (Mustela frenata), 45. Japanese Weasel (Mustela itatsi), 46. Yellow-bellied Weasel (Mustela kathiah), 47. European Mink (Mustela lutreola), 48. Indonesian Mountain Weasel (Mustela lutreolina), 49. Black-footed Ferret (Mustela nigripes), 50. Least Weasel (Mustela nivalis), 51. Malay Weasel (Mustela nudipes), 52. European Polecat (Mustela putorius), 53. Siberian Weasel (Mustela sibirica), 54. Back-striped Weasel (Mustela strigidorsa), 55. Egyptian Weasel (Mustela subpalmata), 56. American Mink (Neovison vison), 57. Patagonian Weasel (Lyncodon patagonicus)

Distribution. Bhutan , S & E China , N & NE India , Laos , Myanmar , Nepal , N Thailand , and Vietnam .