| Colombian weasel | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Subclass: | Theria |
| Infraclass: | Eutheria |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Mustelidae |
| Subfamily: | Mustelinae |
| Genus: | Mustela |
| Species: | M. felipei |
| Binomial name | |
| Mustela felipei Izor and de la Torre, 1978 |
|
| Colombian weasel range | |
Colombian weasel (Mustela felipei), also known as the the South American Weasel or Don Felipe's weasel, is a very rare species of weasel only known with certainty from the departments of Huila and Cauca in Colombia[2] and nearby northern Ecuador (where only known from a single specimen).[1] Both its scientific and alternative common name honours the mammalogist Philip "Don Felipe" Hershkovitz.[3]
It has a head and body length of about 22 cm (8,6 in), and a tail of about 11 cm (4,3 in).[2] The upperparts and tail are blackish-brown, while the underparts are orange-buff. The fur is fairly long.[4]
It appears to be largely restricted to riparian habitats at an altitude of 1700-2700 m (5600-8900 ft). There is extensive deforestation within its small range, and with less than 10 known specimens,[1] it is probably the rarest carnivoran in South America.[4] It is therefore considered vulnerable by IUCN.[1]
Very little is known about its behavior, but it has several features, among them extensive toe webbing, which suggests it has a semiaquatic lifestyle.[4]