Yellow-bellied weasel

The yellow-bellied weasel (Mustela kathiah) is a species of weasel that inhabits pine forests in central and eastern Asia.

Yellow-bellied weasel
At Shillong, Meghalaya, India
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Suborder:	Caniformia
Family:	Mustelidae
Genus:	Mustela
Species:	M. kathiah
Binomial name
Mustela kathiah Hodgson, 1835
Yellow-bellied weasel range

Description

The species is named for its yellow-colored underbelly; the upperside of the body and the tail are of a dark brown. Body length is 9.8–10.6 inches (25–27 cm). The tail of 4.9–5.9 inches (12–15 cm) is about half as long as the body. Mean weight is about 3.3 pounds (1.5 kg).^[2]

Taxonomy

Two subspecies are recognized: M. k. caporiaccoi (de Beaux, 1935) and M. k. kathiah (Hodgson, 1835).^[3]

Distribution and habitat

The yellow-bellied weasel occurs in Bhutan, Burma, China, India, Laos, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand and Vietnam. It inhabits forested habitats at elevations of 1,000–2,000 m (3,300–6,600 ft), but moves down to lower elevations in winter; in winter it may come down lower than 1,000 m (3,300 ft).^[1]

Ecology

Yellow-bellied weasels eat birds, mice, rats, voles, and other small mammals.^{[citation needed]}

Yellow-bellied weasels first build a den in the ground. Breeding occurs annually. Mating occurs in late spring or early summer. Females are pregnant for about ten months. The female gives birth to 3–18 kits in April or May. By the time the kits are eight weeks old, they are ready to go out and hunt on their own.^{[citation needed]}