Mustela nivalis Linnaeus, 1766 p.69 Ellerman & Morrison-Scott, 1951 p.256 Won, 1968 p.282 Han, 1994 p.46 Oh, 2004a p.169 M. nivalis mosanensis Mori, 1927 p.28 Kuroda, 1938 p.29 Ellerman & Morrison-Scott, 1951 p.258 Won, 1958 p.438 Won, 1967 p.113 Won, 1968 p.283 M. pygmaea mosanensis : Kishida & Mori, 1931 p.380 M . nivalis nivalis : Corbet, 1978 p.169 Yoon, 1992 p.102 Mammals of Korea: a review of their taxonomy, distribution and conservation status Jo, Yeong-Seok Baccus, John T. Koprowski, John L. Zootaxa 2018 2018-11-19 4522 1 1 216 44QY4 36239 Linnaeus, 1766 Linnaeus 1766 [151,530,1038,1064] Mammalia Mustelidae Mustela Animalia Carnivora 74 75 Chordata species nivalis      Mustela nivalis Linnaeus, 1766 p.69; Typelocality- Sweden;  Ellerman & Morrison-Scott, 1951 p.256;  Won, 1968 p.282;  Han, 1994 p.46; Won & Smith, 1999; p.19;  Oh, 2004a p.169.     M. nivalis mosanensis Mori, 1927 p.28; Typelocality- Yeonam (near Musan), Korea;  Kuroda, 1938 p.29;  Ellerman & Morrison-Scott, 1951 p.258;  Won, 1958 p.438;  Won, 1967 p.113;  Won, 1968 p.283.     M. pygmaea mosanensis: Kishida & Mori, 1931 p.380.     M. nivalis nivalis: Corbet, 1978 p.169;  Yoon, 1992 p.102.   Range:Previously, mammalogists thought the least weasel in Koreahad a distribution limited to the northeastern Korean Peninsula ( Won 1968). However, although very rare, the least weasel is now found throughout most of the Korean Peninsula (NIBR 2012; Fig. 47).   Remarks:The least weasel is recognized in Koreaas the Subspecies M. n. mosanensis( Won 1968). Corbet (1978)relegated most populations in Eurasia, including M. n. mosanensis, to a synonym of M. n.  nivalis Linnaeus, 1766. Abramov and Baryshnikov (2000)identified 19 subspecies and confirmed one subspecies, M. n. mosanensis,in the Korean Peninsula, despite difference in coloration between northern and southern Korea. Specimens from northern Koreashowed  nivalis-coloration in which the winter coat turns completely white; however, southern population showed  vulgaris-coloration with incomplete white coloration in winter coats ( Choi & Choi 2007).  Conservation status:The North Korean government designated habitat of  M. nivalisin the Mayang District, Musan County, Hamgyeongbuk Province as a Natural Monument in 1980.  M. nivalisin South Koreaare regarded as ‘Vulnerable’ (NIBR 2012) and in North Koreaas ‘Rare’ (MAB National Committee of DPR Korea2002).