Mountain Weasel

Taxobox
name = Mountain Weasel
status = LR/lc | status_system = IUCN2.3
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
ordo = Carnivora
familia = Mustelidae
subfamilia = Mustelinae
genus = "Mustela"
species = "M. altaica"
binomial = "Mustela altaica"
binomial_authority = Pallas, 1811

The Mountain Weasel, also known as the Pale Weasel, is a species of weasel that lives in mountainous parts of Asia from Kazakhstan, Tibet, Ladakh and the Himalayas through to Mongolia, northeastern China, southern Siberia and Korea.

Males exhibit head and body length of 22 to 29 cm, with the tail adding 11 to 15 cm. Males can weigh from 217 to 350 g. Females measure 22 to 25 cm, with tails of 9 to 12 cm. They weigh from 122 to 220 g.

This species undergoes spring and autumn molts. The winter coat is dark yellowish to ruddy brown on the back, with pale yellow to creamy white on throat and belly. The upper head between the muzzle and ears is usually darker gray-brown. The tail may be more rufous than the back. the summer fur is gray to gray-brown with some light yellow. The lips of these weasels are white, and the chin has grayish-brown to whitish vibrissae.