Mustela nigripes
Range
Thought to be extinct in the wild, they were reintroduced in Arizona, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Utah, Colorado, and Mexico.Habitat
They live on the prairie grassland.Body Traits
Including their tail, they can reach almost 2 feet long (56cm). They are long and thin with short legs and a yellowish coat with black feet and tail tip. They have a black mask around their eyes. They have sharp claws for digging.Habits
They are active at night (nocturnal) hunting prairie dogs in their burrows and spend the day resting in the prairie dog burrows. They live alone except to mate.Diet
They eat mostly prairie dogs, but also mice, voles and other small mammals.Predators
They are killed by hawks, coyotes and man.Reproduction
Females are pregnant for 6 weeks (gestation) when she has 3-6 kits. She cares for them through the summer. In the fall they go out on their own.Lifespan and/or Conservation Status
They can live for about 12 years in the wild. They are the most endangered mammal in North America.
Classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Subphylum: Vertebrata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Carnivora
- Suborder: Caniformia
- Family: Mustelidae
- Subfamily: Mustelinae
- Genus: Mustela
- Species: Mustela nigripes