20 Facts About Least weasel

Least weasel was given its scientific name Mustela nivalis by Carl Linnaeus in his 12th edition of Systema Naturae in 1766.

The Least weasel's ancestors were larger than the current form, and underwent a reduction in size to exploit the new food source.

The least weasel thrived during the Ice Age, as its small size and long body allowed it to easily operate beneath snow, as well as hunt in burrows.

Least weasel has a high geographic variation, a fact which has historically led to numerous disagreements among biologists studying its systematics.

Least weasel has a thin, greatly elongated and extremely flexible body with a small, yet elongated, blunt-muzzled head which is no thicker than the neck.

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Least weasel has a typical mustelid territorial pattern, consisting of exclusive male ranges encompassing multiple female ranges.

Least weasel has four basic vocalisations; a guttural hiss emitted when alarmed, which is interspersed with short screaming barks and shrieks when provoked.

Least weasel feeds predominantly on mouse-like rodents, including mice, hamsters, gerbils and others.

The least weasel kills small prey, such as voles, with a bite to the occipital region of the skull or the neck, dislocating the cervical vertebrae.

Least weasel is small enough to be preyed upon by a range of other predators.

Least weasel remains have been found in the excrement of red foxes, sables, steppe and forest polecat, stoats, eagle owls and buzzards.

The Least weasel manages to avoid too much competition by living in more upland areas, feeding on smaller prey and being capable of entering smaller holes.

Least weasel has a circumboreal, Holarctic distribution, encompassing much of Europe and North Africa, Asia and parts of northern North America, where it occurs mainly in places where the stoat is not found.

Least weasel occupies a similar type of habitat as the stoat, but it frequents wet places less often.

Least weasel has a very wide circumboreal range and a large total population and is therefore listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as being of "least concern".

Ancient Macedonians believed that to see a least weasel was a good omen.

Similarly, a popular superstition in southern Greece had it that the least weasel had previously been a bride, who was transformed into a bitter animal which would destroy the wedding dresses of other brides out of jealousy.

The Least weasel destroys the basilisk by its odour, but dies itself in this struggle of nature against its own self.

Ojibwe believed that the least weasel could kill the dreaded wendigo by rushing up its anus.

In Inuit mythology, the least weasel is credited with both great wisdom and courage, and whenever a mythical Inuit hero wished to accomplish a valorous task, he would generally change himself into a least weasel.