Mustela erminea Linnaeus 1758

41. Ermine Mustela erminea French: Belette hermine / German: Hermelin / Spanish: Armino Other common names: Stoat, Short-tailed Weasel Taxonomy. Mustela erminea Linnaeus, 1758, Sweden. Thirty-four subspecies are recognized. Subspecies and Distribution. M. e. erminea Linnaeus, 1758 — Finland, Norway, NW Russia, and Sweden. M. e. aestiva Kerr, 1792 — most of mainland N & C Europe to C Asia in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. M. e. alascensis Merriam, 1896 — S Alaska. M. e. anguinae Hall, 1932 — SW Canada (Vancouver I, British Columbia). M. e. arctica Merriam, 1896 — Alaska and NW Canada. M. e. bangsi Hall, 1945 — C Canada and NC USA. M. e. celenda Hall, 1944 — Alaska (Prince of Wales I). M.e. cicognanii Bonaparte, 1838 — SE Canada and NE USA. M. e. fallenda Hall, 1945 — W Canada (British Columbia) and NW USA (N Washington). M. e. ferghanae Thomas, 1895 — Afghanistan, N India, and Pakistan. M.e. gulosa Hall, 1945 — NW USA (E Washington). M.e. haidarum Preble, 1898 — W Canada (Queen Charlotte Is, British Columbia). M.e. hibernica Thomas & Barrett-Hamilton, 1895 — Ireland. M.e. imatis Hall, 1944 — Alaska (Baranof I). M.e. invicta Hall, 1945 — SW Canada (Alberta) and NW USA (Idaho & Montana). M.e. kadiacensis Merriam, 1896 — Alaska (Kodiak I). M.e. kaneti Baird, 1857 — NE China, Russia (E Siberia). M.e. karaginensis Jurgenson, 1936 — NE Russia (Karaginsky I). M.e. lymani Hollister, 1912 — E Russia (Altai Mts, Siberia). M.e. minima Cavazza, 1912 — Switzerland. M.e. mongolica Ognev, 1928 — NW China and Mongolian Altai. M. e. muricus Bangs, 1899 — USA (N California, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah & Wyoming). M. e. nippon Cabrera, 1913 — Japan. M.e. olympica Hall, 1945 — NW USA (Olympic Peninsula, Washington). M.e. polaris Barrett-Hamilton, 1904 — Greenland. M.e.richardsonii Bonaparte, 1838 — N Canada. M.e. ricinae G. S. Miller, 1907 — Scotland (Islay I). M.e.salva Hall, 1944 — SE Alaska (Admiralty I). M.e.seclusa Hall, 1944 — SE Alaska (Suemez I). M.e.sempler Sutton & Hamilton, 1932 — Canada (Franklin & Keewatin Districts). M.e.stabilis Barrett-Hamilton, 1904 — Great Britain. M.e.streatori Merriam, 1896 — W USA (NE California, Oregon & coastal Washington). M.e.teberdina Kornejv, 1941 — Russian Caucasus. M.e. tobolica Ognev, 1923 — W Siberia. Introduced to New Zealand. Descriptive notes. Head-body 22: 5-34 cm (males), 19-29 cm (females); tail 4.2-12 cm; weight of males is 208-283 ¢ in Europe, 320 g in Britain, 285-356 g in New Zealand (introduced population), 233-365 g in Ireland, 134-191 g in Russia, 56-206 g in North America, adult males are 40-80% larger than females. The Ermine has a long, slender body and short limbs. Except in certain southern parts of their range, Ermines change color in April-May and October-November. In the summer, the back, flanks, and outersides of the limbs are reddish or chocolate brown; the underparts are white and the tip of the tail is black. During winter, the pelage becomes white throughout except for the black tip of the tail. There are four pairs of mammae. The skull has a long braincase, inflated tympanic bullae, and is relatively flat. Dental formula: I 3/3, Cl/A.P3/3:;M1/2=34. Habitat. Ermines are found in a wide range of habitats, including tundra, alpine meadows, woodlands, marshes, mountains, riparian habitats, farmland, and hedgerows, from sea level up to 3000 m. They prefer areas with vegetative or rocky cover. In the mountains of south-east British Columbia, Ermines were detected in all forests surveyed; these covered the range from open dry Douglas-fir forests to dense wet western red cedar (Thwa plicata) and western hemlock (75uga heterophylla) forests, and from very recent clear-cuts to mature stands over 300 years in age. In a subarctic area in Finland, adult females were found to live in areas where the abundance of their preferred Microtus prey was the highest; dominant males lived in less productive habitats than females, but in more productive areas than non-dominant mature males. Food and Feeding. The diet consists mainly of small mammals, such as voles, mice, rats, lemmings, squirrels, and lagomorphs, but also includes birds, eggs, lizards, frogs, snakes, insects, earthworms, and fruit. In Great Britain, the percentage frequency of occurrence in the diet consists of 65% lagomorphs, 16% small rodents, and 17% birds and birds’ eggs; males eat a greater proportion of lagomorphs than females, which eat more small rodents. In Denmark (where European Rabbits are absent), a dietary study showed that rodents are the most important prey group, constituting 84% of their diet (frequency of occurrence). Ermines ate birds and birds’ eggs more often than sympatric Least Weasels, while Least Weasels ate more insectivores. Ermines ate more Microtus voles and Water Voles than Least Weasels, while Least Weasels ate more Bank Voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) and Moles (Talpa europaea). In the Italian Alps, 60% of scats contained small rodents, indicating that they were the main prey. However, the frequency of occurrence offruits in the diet increased significantly in August, after rodent biomass had dropped by more than 50% in July. In the forests of New Brunswick, Canada, the frequency of occurrence of prey is 28-0% soricids, 24:6% arvicolines, and 17-3% cricetines; the Deer Mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus, 17-3%) and shrews (Sorex sp., 28-:0%) have the highest percent occurrence, whereas the Red Squirrel and the Eastern Chipmunk (7amius striatus) comprise 11-2% of the diet. Ermines generally hunt in a zig-zag pattern, progressing by a series of leaps that are up to 50 cm long. Prey are located mostly by smell or sound, and are often pursued into underground burrows or under snow. Ermines usually kill prey by biting the base of the skull. They sometimes attack animals considerably larger than themselves, such as adult hares. Ermines may cache excess food underground for later use during the winter. Activity patterns. Primarily nocturnal, but can be active at any time during the day. Their long shape makes them sensitive to cold temperatures and this, combined with a high metabolic rate, requires that Ermines hunt constantly to fulfill their energetic demands. Short periods of activity and rest alternate every three to five hours. Dens/ rest sites are in crevices, among tree roots, in hollow logs, or in burrows taken over from a rodent. Several nests are maintained within an individual’s home range; these are lined with dry vegetation or the fur and feathers of its prey. Ermines can easily run over or tunnel in snow to escape predators and search for food. Movements, Home range and Social organization. Ermines are solitary and primarily terrestrial, but they are also agile tree climbers and strong swimmers. Daily movements may reach 15 km, but usually average c. 1 km. Movements increase when prey are rare or dispersed. Home ranges may reach 200 ha, but are typically 10-40 ha; male ranges are generally larger than female ranges. Both sexes maintain exclusive territories, but a male home range may overlap one or more female ranges. Males show a marked seasonal shift in their social organization from a pattern of intra-sexual territories during the non-breeding season (autumn and winter) to a non-territorial pattern with extensive and overlapping ranges during the mating season (spring and summer). Boundaries are regularly patrolled and scent-marked, and neighbors usually avoid each other. Population density fluctuates with prey abundance and may range from 2-6 individuals per km®. Breeding. Females are polyestrous, but produce only one litter per year; the estrous cycle is four weeks. Mating occurs in late spring or early summer, but implantation of the fertilized eggs into the uterus is delayed for 9-10 months. Embryonic development is just over one month. Births occur in April or May in the Northern Hemisphere and around October in New Zealand. Litter size may reach 18, but typically is four to eight. Neonates are born blind, naked, and weigh 2-7-4- 2 g. Their eyes open after four to six weeks. Solid food is taken after four or five weeks, though lactation may continue until weeks seven to twelve. They grow rapidly and by eight weeks are able to hunt with their mother. At two to three months, their permanent detention is complete. Females reach adult size at six months. They attain sexual maturity at two to three months and sometimes mate during their first summer. Males attain full size and sexual maturity after one year. Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern in The IUCN Red List. Ermines are considered common throughout their distribution. They rarely molest poultry and are valuable to humans because they prey on mice and rats. However, Ermines are considered pests in New Zealand, where they were introduced to control rabbits but subsequently decimated populations of native birds. On the Iberian Peninsula, the Ermine is dependent on two Arvicola species, which are declining in numbers. Ermines are trapped in North America and Russia for their fur; the white winter fur has long been used in trimming coats and making stoles. Bibliography. Edwards & Forbes (2003), EImeros (2006), Erlinge & Sandell (1986), Hellstedt & Henttonen (2006), Hellstedt et al. (2006), King (1983, 1990), Martinoli et al. (2001), McDonald et al. (2000), Mowat & Poole (2005), Robitaille & Raymond (1995), Samson & Raymond (1998), Svendsen (2003), 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 649-650, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.571404