Summary ²

The ferret (Mustela putorius furo) is the domesticated form of the European Polecat, a mammal belonging to the same genus as the weasel, Mustela of the family Mustelidae. They typically have brown, black, white, or mixed fur. They have an average length of 51 cm (20 inches) including a 13 cm (5 inch) tail, weigh about 1.5–4 pounds (0.7–2 kg), and have a natural lifespan of 7 to 10 years. Ferrets are sexually dimorphic predators with males being substantially larger than females.

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1. (c) neusitas, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/neusitas/4487650968/
2. (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustela_putorius_furo

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Animal Diversity Web
• ASM Mammal Diversity Database
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• BOLD Systems BIN search
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• iNaturalist Mammal Working Group
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