Mustela kathiah Linnaeus 1758

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).Published as part of Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2009, Mustelidae, pp. 564-656 in Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 1 Carnivores, Barcelona :Lynx Edicions on pages 651-652, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.571404