ETYM Old Eng. wesele, AS. wesle; akin to Dutch wezel, German wiesel, Old High Germ. wisala, Icel. hreyivîsla, Dan. väsel, Swed. vessla; of uncertain origin.
Small carnivorous mammal with short legs and elongated body and neck.
Any of various small, short-legged, lithe carnivorous mammals with bushy tails, especially the genus Mustela, found worldwide except Australia. They feed mainly on small rodents although some, like the mink M. vison, hunt aquatic prey. Most are 12–25 cm/5–10 in long, excluding tail.
Included are the North American long-tailed weasel, the N hemisphere ermine or stoat, the Eurasian polecat, and the endangered North American black-footed ferret. In cold regions the coat color of several species changes to white during the winter. + prikaži više