Ermine (Mustela erminea)

Taxonomy

Order Carnivora

Family Mustelidae

Contested Taxonomy: American Stoat (Mustela richardsonii)

Colella et al. (2021) suggest that there are three genetically distinct species within ermine (Mustela erminea). These include the Euraisian stoat (Mustela erminea), the Haida stoat (Mustela haidarum), and the American stoat (Mustela richardsonii), the species found in Vermont.

Common Names ermine, stoat, short-tailed weasel

Conservation Status

• Vermont: S5 (Secure)
• Global: G5 (Secure)
• IUCN Red List: Least Concern

More Information

• VAL Species Account and Data
• iNaturalist Species Account
• Nature Serve Explorer
• IUCN Red List

Vermont Distribution

Banner Image:

Photo 66406389, (c) Suzanne Labbé, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC) / Cropped from original

References

Colella, J. P., Frederick, L. M., Talbot, S. L., & Cook, J. A. (2021).

     Extrinsically reinforced hybrid speciation within holarctic ermine

     (mustela spp.) produces an insular endemic. Diversity and Distributions,

     27(4), 747-762. https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13234