Kingdom : Animalia Class : Mammalia Family : Mustelidae Scientific Name : Mustela Erminea Size : 25 - 35cm (10 - 14in) Weight : 200 - 500g (7 - 17.6oz) Top Speed : 32km/h (20mph) Life Span : 4 - 6 years Colour : Tan, Black, Brown, White Skin Type : Fur Special Features : Elongated body and very sharp teeth
- Stoats are small-sized mammals that are found in the northern hemisphere.
- They are closely related to ferrets, wolverines, badgers, otters and weasels.
- They inhabit the woodlands, farms, moorland, mountainous regions and coastal areas in the northern hemisphere.
- They are also found inhabiting the Arctic Circle.
- They grow to an average size of 18-32cm and weigh around 200g.
- On an average, they live to be around 4-5 years old.
- Stoats are solitary animals that come together only to breed.
- They are not known to be territorial, except the female stoats that become territorial during the breeding season.
- This could be because of the female stoats need to protect her young from intruders and predators.
- Though they mate in May, the embryos do not develop for many months.
- After the delay, when the embryos start developing, and after a month, the female stoat gives birth to 5-15 kits.
- The stoat kits are cared for by their mother till they become independent at 3 months.
- Interestingly, most female stoats give birth to only one litter during their lives.
- Stoats are carnivores, feeding on fish, eggs, rodents, insects, amphibians and small reptiles.
- They like to prey on rabbits, though rabbits are larger in size; stoats are used for rabbit pest control.
- Their natural predators are wild cats, foxes, dogs and large snakes.
- The stoats use their sharp teeth to defend themselves by biting their prey.