Yellow-bellied weasel

The yellow-bellied weasel (Mustela kathiah) is a type of weasel. It lives in pine forests in central and eastern Asia.

Description
This type of weasel is named for its yellow-colored underbelly; the upperside of the body and the tail are of a dark brown. Yellow-bellied weasels can grow up to 9.8–10.6 inches (25–27 cm) long. The tail is 4.9–5.9 inches (12–15 cm) long. It weighs about 3.3 pounds (1.5 kg).

Distribution and Habitat
It lives in Bhutan, Burma, China, India, Laos, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand and Vietnam. It lives in forests between 1,000 m and 2,000 m in elevation. In winter, it may come down lower than 1,000 m.

Feeding
Yellow-bellied weasels mostly eat rodents such as mice, rats, and voles. They will also eat birds and small mammals.

Reproduction
Yellow-bellied weasels first build a den in the ground. They breed every year. Mating happens 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 by themselves.

Economic importance
Yellow-bellied weasels are easily trained. It can be used to control rodents in buildings.

References

Category:Mammals of Asia
Category:Mustelids