Carnivores, Wildlife Biology

1. ORDER CARNIVORA

2. What is carnivore??
• Animals that adapted to eating flesh
• Order includes some non-carnivores
Characteristics of Carnivores
• Well-developed incisors, canines, premolars & molars with cutting
edges
• Well-developed feet with 4 or more sharp & strong claws

3. INTRODUCTION
• Biggest – Himalayan Brown Bear
• Smallest – Small Indian Mongoose
• Most Endangered – Malabar Civet (CR)
• EN – 6 in India
• No. of families in Kerala – 6

4. No. Family World India WG Kerala
1. NANDINIDAE 1 X X X
2. FELIDAE 37 15 6 5
3. PRIONODONTIDAE 2 1 X X
4. VIVERRIDAE 34 8 4 4
5. HYAENIDAE 4 1 1 X
6. HERPESTIDAE 34 6 4 4
7. EUPLERIDAE 8 X X X
8. CANIDAE 35 6 4 3
9. URSIDAE 8 4 1 1
10. AILURIDAE 1 1 X X
11. PROCYONIDAE 12 X X X
12. MEPHIDAE 12 X X X
13. MUSTELIDAE 57 17 5 3
TOTAL 245 59 24 20

5. DIET
Felidae •Completely Hyper Carnivores
Viverridae •Large amount of fruits & omnivores
Herpestidae •Insects & small preys
Canidae •More carnivores
Ursidae •Truly omnivores
Mustelidae •Small preys & fruits

6. NANDINIDAE African Palm Civet
• Small mammals with small ears; heavily-built body; short legs; tail
longer than the head and body; dark brown in colour and with a pair of
bright scapular spots
• 71-139 cm
• Tropical Africa
• 1 genus, 1 species
Nandinia binotata : African Palm Civet
: LC

8. FELIDAE Cats
• Small to quite large mammals with rounded head, rather flat face and
facial whiskers; large eyes and ears; sleek and streamlined body with
muscular legs
• 48.6-399 cm
• Holarctic, Neotropical, Afrotropical, Oriental Region
• 14 genera, 37 species
• 2 subfamilies – Pantherinae (Big Cats) & Felinae (Small Cats)

9. • Earlier distinction between Big & Small Cats was based on the
presence of elastic ligament in the hyoid apparatus below the
tongue, which apparently allowed to big cats to roar, but not
purr. The bony hyoid allowed small cats to purr
• Earlier separation of Cheetah in its own subfamily
(Acinonychinae) was based on absence of cutaneous sheaths to
protect the retracted claws
• Now the classification based on the structure of larynx
• Long, fleshy, elasticated vocal folds within the larynx of big cats
resonate to produce a roar, whereas the small cats, including
Cheetah, have simpler vocal folds
BIG CATS & SMALL CATS

10. Tiger, Panthera tigris
• EN
• Social Unit: Solitary
• Hind limbs are much longer than
forelimbs
• White Tiger – due to recessive gene
• Distribution in India – WG, EG, Central,
NE, Foothills of Himalayas

11. • Subspecies
1. Panthera tigris tigris – Royal Bengal tiger – EN
2. P. t. altaica – Amur Tiger – EN – Largest Tiger
3. P. t. amoyensis – South China Tiger – CR (Possibly EW)
4. P. t. balica – Bali Tiger – EX
5. P. t. corbetti – Indochinese Tiger – EN
6. P. t. jacksoni – Malayan Tiger – CR
7. P. t. sondaica – Javan Tiger – EX
8. P. t. sumatrae – Sumatran Tiger – CR
9. P. t. virgate – Caspian Tiger – EX

13. Lion, Panthera leo
• VU
• Social unit: Prides of 2-15
• Distribution in India: Gir Forest of Gujrat
• Subspecies in the World
1. Panthera leo persica – Asiatic Lion – only in Gir Forest of Gujrat – EN
2. P. l. azandica – NE Zaire
3. P. l. bleyenberghi – S Zaire, Zambia & Angola
4. P. l. krugeri – NW, N, & SE South Africa
5. P. l. nubica – NE & E Africa
6. P. l. senagalensis – West Africa, East to the Central African Republic
• According to IUCN Cat Specialist Group – Panthera leo leo considered as the
African Lion
• Panthera leo West African subpopulation - CR

14. • Asian subspecies are generally smaller
• Melanistic forms are extremely rare
• Some very pale individuals reported from Kaokoland, Namibia & SW
Botswana, and some white individuals (not albinos) reported from
Timbavati & NE South Africa
• The manes serves as a sexual signal to females & distinguish the
males from great distance; it is also an indicator of male fitness

17. Leopard Panthera pardus
• NT
• Social unit: Solitary
• Distribution in India:
Throughout India except arid
parts of Kutch & Rajasthan,
and High Himalayas
• 24 subspecies
1. Panthera pardus fusca –
Indian Subcontinent
2. P. p. pernigra – Kashmir
3. P. p. kotiya – Sri Lanka – EN

19. Snow Leopard, Panthera uncia
• EN
• Social unit: solitary (overlapping of
home ranges)
• Distribution in India: High Himalayas,
trans Himalayas (Kashmir to
Arunachal)
• Subspecies
1. Panthera uncia uncia – C Asia NE to
Mongolia and Russia
2. P. u. uncioides – W China & Himalayas
• Adapted to live in high altitudes

21. Indochinese Clouded Leopard, Neofelis nebulosa
• VU
• Social unit: Solitary
• Distribution in India: NE
• Subspecies
1. Neofelis nebulosa nebulosa – Indochinese region & S
China
2. N. n. macrosceloides – Sub-Himalayan region from Nepal
to Myanmar
• Smallest of the big cats in India
• Historically 3 species occurred – recent reclassification
suggests diardi as separate species

23. Asian Golden Cat, Catopuma temminckii
• NT
• Social unit: Solitary
• Distribution in India: Sub-
Himalayan, NE India
• Subspecies = 3
• Catopuma temminckii temminckii –
India, Nepal
• Resembles miniature of North
American Puma

25. Marbled Cat, Pardofelis marmorata
• NT
• Social unit: Solitary
• Distribution in India: NE
• Subspecies = 2
• Pardofelis marmorata charltoni –
Sub-Himalayan
• Miniature of Clouded Leopard

27. Caracal, Caracal caracal
• LC
• Social unit: Solitary
• Distribution in India: Arid parts of
Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat
& MP
• No. of subspecies = 9
• Caracal caracal schmitzii – Turkey,
Palestine to India
• Hind limbs are longer than its
forelimbs

29. Asiatic Wildcat, Felis silvestris
• LC
• Social unit: Solitary
• Distribution in India: Arid parts of
Rajasthan and Gujrat, extending up
to Pune and parts of MP
• No. of subspecies = 19
• Felis silvestris ornata – India

31. Eurasian Lynx, Lynx lynx
• LC
• Social unit: Solitary
• Distribution in India: Ladakh, Pak occupied
Kashmir, J&K, Sikkim
• Subspecies = 7
• Lynx lynx isabellinus – Pamir and Kunlun
mountains, Kashmir, C&W China
• Subspecies present in India have paler
sandy grey in colour than others

33. Pallas’s Cat, Otocolobus manul
• NT
• Social unit: Solitary
• Distribution in India: Ladakh, trans
Himalayas of Sikkim
• Subspecies = 3
• Otocolobus manul nigripectus –
Kashmir to Nepal, Tibetan highlands, E
to C and SW China
• Also known by Manul (German &
Russian name)

35. Jungle Cat, Felis chaus
• LC
• Social unit: Solitary and pairs
• Subspecies & distribution in India
1. Felis chaus affinis – Himalayas & NE
2. F. c. kelaarti – S India, S of River Krishna
3. F. c. prateri – Western India
4. F. c. kutas – peninsular India, north of River
Krishna up to the Terai
• Most common wild cat in India
• Melanistic forms reported from India &
Pakistan

37. Leopard Cat, Prionailurus bengalensis
• LC
• Social unit: Solitary
• Subspecies & distribution in
India:
1. Prionailurus bengalensis
bengalensis – peninsular
India
2. P. b. horsfieldii – Himalaya &
NE
3. P. b. trevelyani – J&K, HP
and west of River Sutlej
• Looks like miniature of
Leopard

39. Fishing Cat, Prionailurus viverrinus
• EN
• Social unit: Solitary
• Distribution in India: Terai,
Rajasthan, southern WG, WB & NE
• Subspecies = 2
• Prionailurus viverrinus viverrinus –
India
• P. v. rizophoreus - Java
• Adapted to catch fishes &
waterfowls

41. Rusty Spotted Cat, Prionailurus rubiginosus
• VU
• Social unit: Solitary
• Distribution in India: S&C India,
west to Saurashtra and parts of
Rajasthan
• Subspecies = 3
• Prionailurus rubiginosus rubiginosus
• Other two subspecies distributed in
Sri Lanka
• One of the smallest felid

43. PRIONODONTIDAE Linsangs
• Small mammals with slender, genet like aspect; pointed muzzle;
elongated neck; tail almost as long as the head and body; spotted
coat pattern and pair of large stripes on the nape
• 61-84.9 cm
• South-east Asia
• 1 genus, 2 species

44. Spotted Linsang, Prionodon pardicolor
• LC
• Social unit: Solitary
• Distribution India: NE
• Subspecies = 2
• Prionodon pardicolor pardicolor
• Individual variation in spot marking
• Inhabits tree hollows

46. VIVERRIDAE Civets, Genets & Oyans
• Small to medium sized mammals; long and slender body; pointed
face; fairly short legs; long tail
• 65-180 cm
• Old World tropics throughout Asia and Africa also southern Europe
• 14 genera, 34 species
• 4 subfamilies – Viverrinae (Terrestrial civets), Genettinae (Genetts and
Oyans), Paradoxurinae (Palm Civets and Binturong) & Hemigalinae
(Palm Civets and Otter Civets)

47. Small Indian Civet, Viverricula indica
• LC
• Social unit: Solitary
• Subspecies & Distribution in India
• 11 subspecies in the World
1. Viverricula indica indica – S
Peninsular India
2. V. i. baptistae – NE India
3. V. i. deserti – C India
4. V. i. wellsi – NW India

49. Malabar Civet, Viverra civettina
• CR (probably EX)
• Social unit: Solitary
• Distribution: WG (Kerala, Karnataka)
• No subspecies reported
• Very similar to Large-spotted Civet (Viverra megaspila)
• Studies of Nandini & Mudappa (2010) ruled out the presence of this
species

50. Large Indian Civet, Viverra zibetha
• NT
• Social unit: Solitary
• Distribution in India:
NE
• Subspecies = 6
• Viverra zibetha zibetha
– SW China to Nepal &
NE India

52. Small-toothed Palm Civet, Arctogalidia trivirgata
• LC
• Social unit: Solitary
• Distribution in India: NE, south
of River Brahmaputra
• Subspecies = 3
• Arctogalidia trivirgata leucotis –
NE India, Bangladesh, China &
Mainland SE Asia to the Isthmus
of Kra
• Rare in India

54. Binturong, Arctictis binturong
• VU
• Social unit: Solitary
• Distribution in India: NE
• The no. of subspecies debated and up
to nine has been recognized
• The Palawan subspecies (whitei)
considered as different species by
some authors
• Largest civet species
• Females larger than males

56. Masked Palm Civet, Paguma larvata
• LC
• Social unit: Solitary
• Distribution in India: Himalayas from
J&K to Arunachal, Andamans
• Subspecies = 6
1. Paguma larvata grayi – Bhutan, India,
Nepal & Pakistan
2. P. l. tytlerii – Andamans

58. Common Palm Civet, Paradoxurus hermaphroditus
• LC
• Social unit: Solitary
• Distribution in India: through most of non-Himalayan India except the
arid west. Not present in high Himalayas, replaced by Paguma larvata
& not present in deep WG, replaced by Paradoxurus jerdoni.
• Subspecies = 30+
• Number of subspecies is debated
• Taxonomic revision needed
• Mentawai Palm Civet (Paradoxurus lignicolor): sometimes considered as
separate species

61. Brown Palm Civet, Paradoxurus jerdoni
• LC
• Social unit: Solitary
• Distribution: endemic to
WG
• Subspecies = 2
1. Paradoxurus jerdoni
jerdoni – Coorg &
northern WG
2. P. j. caniscus – Nilgiris,
TN, Kerala

62. HYAENIDAE Hyenas
• Medium to large sized mammals with round or pointed ears relatively
large in comparison to body size; exceptionally powerful jaw muscles;
hindquarters long and slopping; somewhat dog-like in overall
appearance; very muscular
• 85-185 cm
• Africa and Middle East to India
• 4 genera, 4 species
• 2 subfamilies – Protelinae (Aardwolf) & Hyaeninae (Bone-cracking
Hyenas)

63. Striped Hyena, Hyaena hyaena
• NT
• Social Unit – Solitary, pairs & colonies
• Distribution in India: through peninsular
India, south of Himalayas, arid & semi-arid
tracts
• Subspecies
• Some authorities recognize five subspecies
according differences in size & pelage
• Other authorities argue that, current
morphological data don’t support multiple
subspecies
• Hyaena hyaena hyaena – India

65. HERPESTIDAE Mongooses
• Small sized mammals; long face and body; short legs; small rounded
ears; long, tapering , bushy tail
• 34-151 cm
• Old World tropics throughout Asia and Africa, also Middle East and
southern Europe
• 15 genera, 34 species
• 2 subfamilies – Herpestinae (Solitary Mongoose) & Mungotinae
(Social Mongoose)

66. Small Indian Mongoose, Herpestes auropunctatus
• LC
• Social unit – Solitary
• Distribution in India: Northern plains,
extending to WB
• Some authors considered both Small
Indian Mongoose & Javan Mongoose as
same species under the name of H.
javanicus or H. auropunctatus
• Subspecies = 5
• Taxonomic revision needed
• Herpestes auropunctatus auropunctatus

68. Indian Grey Mongoose, Herpestes edwardsii
• LC
• Social unit: Solitary, pairs, OR female with young
• Distribution in India: Throughout India except high Himalayas
• Subspecies = 5
1. Herpestes edwardsii edwardsii – SE India, Sri Lanka
2. H. e. carnaticus – SW India (Karnataka)
3. H. e. moerens – C & NE India, Bangladesh, Bhutan
4. H. e. montanus – Saudi Arabia to NW India
5. H. e. pallens – W India (Gujrat)

71. Indian Brown Mongoose, Herpestes fuscus
• LC
• Social unit: Solitary or pairs
• Distribution: Endemic to WG & Sri
Lanka
• Subspecies = 4
• WG subspecies is darker than Sri
Lanka subspecies
1. Herpestes fuscus fuscus – SW India
(WG)

72. Ruddy Mongoose, Herpestes smithii
• LC
• Social unit: Solitary, occasionally pairs,
very rarely small numbers (3-4)
• Distribution: endemic to India & Sri
Lanka
• Subspecies = 2
1. Herpestes smithii smithii – India
2. H. s. zeylanius – Sri Lanka
• The feet are partially webbed and hind
feet soles are naked

74. Crab-eating Mongoose, Herpestes urva
• LC
• Social unit: solitary, sometimes in
groups of up to 4 members
• Distribution India: northern WB & NE
• Subspecies = 4
• Herpestes urva urva – Nepal through
Indochina to peninsular Malaysia
• Broad white stripe on its neck

75. Stripe-necked Mongoose, Herpestes vitticoliis
• LC
• Social unit: Solitary or pairs
• Distribution: endemic to WG & Sri
Lanka
• Subspecies = 2
1. Herpestes vitticollis vitticollis –
Travancore, S India
2. H. v. inornatus – W India (Karnataka)
• Largest mongoose in Asia

76. EUPLERIDAE Madagascar Carnivores
• Small to medium mammals with elongated bodies; heads range from
elongated and angular to flat and rounded; short to long legs
• 51-150 cm
• Madagascar
• 7 genera, 8 species
• 2 subfamilies – Euplerinae (Civet-like Madagascar Carnivores) &
Galidiinae (Mongoose-like Madagascar Carnivores)

78. CANIDAE Dogs
• Small to quite large mammals with triangular heads; long, pointed
muzzles; well-developed jaws; prominent, roughly triangular pointed
ears; muscular, deep-chested body; long and slender limbs; bushy tail
• 45.8-182 cm
• Cosmopolitan, all regions except Antarctica and many oceanic islands
• 13 genera, 35 species

79. Gray Wolf, Canis lupus
• LC
• Social unit: Packs (5-12 members)
• Subspecies & distribution in India
• Total subspecies = 11; India = 2
1. Canis lupus chanco – J&K, HP
2. C. l. pallipes – peninsular India, absent in
WG

81. Golden Jackal, Canis aureus
• LC
• Social unit: solitary/pair/small groups
(female with offspring: 3-5)
• Distribution in India: throughout India,
except in high Himalayas
• Subspecies
• No. of subspecies not confirmed
• India has four subspecies (not studied
well)

83. Dhole, Cuon alpinus
• EN
• Social unit: Packs
• Distribution in India: central Indian
highlands, Himalayas, trans-Himalayas,
NE, WG
• Subspecies = 3
• Cuon alpinus alpinus – Russia, W China &
SE Asia
• Large canids, usually with reddish or
brown coat, and a darker, bushy tail

85. Red Fox, Vulpes vulpes
• LC
• Social unit: Pairs, sometimes solitary,
occasionally groups up to six
• Subspecies = 44
• Subspecies & distribution in India:
• Vulpes vulpes griffithi – Kashmir
• V. v. montana – Himalayas
• V. v. pusilla – NW India
• Most widely distributed carnivore in the
World

87. Tibetan Fox, Vulpes ferrilata
• LC
• Social unit: mostly solitary or pairs, rarely females & cubs
• Distribution in India: Ladakh, Sikkim
• No subspecies described

89. Indian Fox, Vulpes bengalensis
• LC
• Social unit: solitary or paris
• Distribution: endemic to Indian
subcontinent
• No subspecies described
• Absent in WG

91. URSIDAE Bears
• Large mammals with big head and thick neck; small eyes; rounded
ears; no facial vibrissae; muscular bodies with stout legs; large paws;
short tail
• 100-280 cm
• Holarctic, Neotropical, Oriental Region
• 5 genera, 8 species
• 3 subfamilies – Ailuropodinae (Giant Panda), Tremarctinae (Andean
Bear) & Ursinae (typical Bears)

92. Sun Bear, Helarctos malayanus
• VU
• Social unit: Solitary
• Distribution in India: NE
• Subspecies = 2
• Helarctos malayanus malayanus –
Bangladesh, NE India, S China, SE
Asia, Malaysia, Sumatra
• Mostly arboreal

94. Sloth Bear, Melursus ursinus
• VU
• Social unit: Solitary
• Distribution in India: throughout peninsular
India, NE (south of Himalayas up to Assam),
WG
• Subspecies = 2
1. Melursus ursinus ursinus – India, Nepal
2. M. u. inornatus – Sri Lanka
• Sri Lankan subspecies is smaller, coat colour
is black, with rare brown or reddish-brown
individuals. Long snout & long shaggy hair

96. Asiatic Black Bear, Ursus thebetanus
• VU
• Social unit: Solitary, mother with cubs
• Distribution in India: Himalayas & hilly
regions of NE states
• Subspecies = 7
1. Ursus thebetanus thebetanus – NE India,
Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Thailand
2. U. t. laniger - Himalayas
• Also called Moon Bear due to crescent-
shaped creamy/white patch on its
glossy black chest

98. Brown Bear, Ursus arctos
• LC
• Social unit: Solitary
• Distribution in India: Western
Himalayan states
• Subspecies = 14
• Ursus arctos isabellinus – N India,
Pak, Afghan, N to Kazakhstan to
Mongolia
• World’s largest terrestrial
carnivore

100. AILURIDAE Red Panda
• Small to medium mammals with round head; short muzzle; large and
pointed ears; bushy tail; muzzle, lips, cheeks and edges of ears white,
eyes with small dark patches; tail with alternate red and buff coloured
rings
• 79-122 cm
• MOUNTAINS OF Central Asia
• 1 genus, 1 species

101. Red Panda, Ailurus fulgens
• EN
• Social unit: Solitary, small groups of
related individuals (3-5)
• Distribution in India: NE Himalayan states
• Subspecies = 2
• Ailurus fulgens fulgens – E Himalayas in
Bhutan, India, Nepal; China & N Myanmar
• Vegetarian: feed only fresh bamboo
leaves

103. PROCYONIDAE Raccoons
• Medium sized mammals; many species with facial masks and/or
ringed tail
• 54-144 cm
• North, Central and South America
• 6 genera, 12 species

104. MEPHITIDAE Skunks
• Small to medium sized mammals with striking black and white colour
pattern and large scent glands at the base of the tail
• 30-134 cm
• SE Asia, North, Central, and South America
• 4 genera, 12 species
• 2 subfamilies – Myadinae (stink badgers) & Mephitinae (skunks)

105. MUSTELIDAE Weasels & Relatives
• Small to medium sized mammals with long bodies and short limbs
• 13-195 cm
• Holarctic, Neotropical, Africa, Oriental Region
• 22 genera, 57 species
• 8 subfamilies – Taxidiinae (American Badger), Mellivorinae (Honey
Badger), Melinae (Hog Badger and Eurasian Badger), Martinae
(Wolverine, Tayra and Martens), Helictidinae (Ferret Badgers),
Galictidinae (grisons, striped pole-cats/weasels, and Marbled
Polecat), Lutrinae (Otters) & Mustelinae (weasels and mink)

106. Honey Badger, Mellivora capensis
• LC
• Social unit: Solitary
• Distribution in India: Himalayan
foothills to southern India, absent
in Kerala & NE
• Subspecies = 10
1. Mellivora capensis indica – India &
Pak
2. M. c. inaurita – Nepal (?India)

108. Hog Badger, Arctonyx collaris
• NT
• Social unit: solitary
• Distribution in India: NE
• No subspecies reported
• Arctonyx considered as monotypic until 2008. Based on
the review of the specimens available in the world
museums, three distinctive species recognised within this
genus
1. Atctonyx albogularis – temperate Asia
2. A. collaris – SE Asia
3. A. hoevenii – endemic to Barisan mountain chain of Sumathra

110. Yellow-throated Marten, Martes flavigula
• LC
• Social unit: very often found as
pairs, 3-5 animals in hunting
party
• Distribution in India: Himalayas
of J&K, and Arunachal, hilly
states of NE
• Subspecies = 6
• Martes flavigula flavigula –
Bangladesh, Bhutan, C, E, & S
China, India, Nepal & Pak

112. Stone Marten, Martes foina
• LC
• Social unit: Solitary
• Distribution in India:
Western & Central Himalayas
• Fifteen subspecies proposed,
but taxonomic revision
needed
• Less arboreal than other
martens

114. Nilgiri Marten, Martes gwatkinsii
• VU
• Social unit: Solitary, pairs, hunting parties up to four
• Distribution: endemic to WG
• No subspecies reported. Some authors considered
as the subspecies of Yellow-throated Marten
• Very similar to YTM, pelage is mostly dark brown;
shoulders and torso are rufous-brown; distinct
rusty-yellow to lemon-yellow marking on the throat

115. Small-toothed Ferret-badger, Melogale moschata
• LC
• Social unit: Solitary
• Distribution in India: NE
• Subspecies = 6
• Melogale moschata millsi –
S China through N
Myanmar to NE India

117. Large-toothed Ferret-badger, Melogale personata
• DD
• Social unit: Solitary
• Distribution in India: NE
• Subspecies = 3
• Melogale personata personata – NE
India to S Myanmar and Thailand
• Very similar to Small-toothed
Ferret-badger

119. Eurasian Otter, Lutra lutra
• NT
• Social unit: Solitary, mother & offspring,
paired couples
• Subspecies & distribution India:
• 28 subspecies proposed, taxonomic
revision needed
1. Lutra lutra kutub – J&K
2. L. l. auroburnnea – Uttarakhand
3. L. l. monticola – Sikkim & Assam
4. L. l. nair – Southern India

121. Asian Small-clawed Otter, Aonyx cinereus
• VU
• Social unit: Small groups of 2-4
• Subspecies & distribution in India:
• Total subspecies = 3
1. Aonyx cinereus concolor – Himalayan foothills
2. A. c. nirnai – hills of S India
• Smallest of Otters in the World
• Long body & short legs, dorso-ventrally
flattened tail. Pelage uniformly brown except
for neck, throat and chin, which is greyish-
silver or white

123. Smooth-coated Otter, Lutrogale perspicillata
• VU
• Social unit: small family groups, mated pairs &
several litters
• Distribution in India: throughout India except in
high Himalayas, arid western parts, Deccan
• Subspecies = 3
1. Lutrogale perspicillata perspicillata – SE Asia from
India, S China and Main land SE Asia to Borneo,
Sumatra and E Java
• Very smooth pelage, naked rhinarium, and fully
clawed and webbed feet. Pelage ranges from
reddish-brown to dark brown

125. Altai Mountain Weasel, Mustela altaica
• NT
• Social unit: Solitary
• Distribution in India:
Himalayas from J&K to
Sikkim
• No subspecies

127. Ermine, Mustela erminea
• LC
• Social unit: Solitary
• Distribution in India: Ladakh,
J&K
• Subspecies = 34
• Mustela erminea ferghanae –
Afghanistan, N India & Pak

129. Yellow-bellied Weasel, Mustela kathiah
• LC
• Social unit: Solitary
• Distribution in India: Uttarakhand
in the west through the eastern
Himalayas & NE
• No subspecies reported

131. Siberian Weasel, Mustela sibirica
• LC
• Social unit: Solitary
• Subspecies & distribution in
India:
• 22 subspecies proposed,
taxonomic revision needed
1. Mustela siberica canigula –
Himalayas from Ladakh
2. M. s. hodgsoni – J&K to
Uttarakhand
3. M. s. subhemachalana –
eastern Himalayas from Sikkim
to Nagaland

133. Back-striped Weasel, Mustela strigidorsa
• LC
• Social unit: Solitary
• Distribution in India:
Northern WB, Sikkim,
Assam ,Arunachal &
Nagaland
• No subspecies reported