| The American Mink, with its luxurious brown coat, is now bred on farms, or mink ranches, to provide fur to the clothing industry. This has relieved some of the stress natural populations endured from trapping over the past two centuries. The nocturnal, semi-aquatic Mink is now common along streams, lakes, and marshes throughout much of North America. Like other mustelids, Mink are good hunters. They consume crayfish, frogs, fish, birds, and small mammals. For some reason, few animals prey on them.
Sexual Dimorphism:
Males are about 20% heavier than females.
Length:
Range:
550-700 mm males; 470-600 mm females
Weight:
Range:
550-1,250 g males; 550-1,000 g females
References:
Schreber, J.C.D., 1777. in Schreber's Die Säugthiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur mit Beschreibungen, Wolfgang Walther, Erlangen, 7 volumes, 1774-1846; 3(19):pl. 127.B[1777]; text, 3(26):463[1777].
Links:
Mammal Species of the World
Click here for The American Society of Mammalogists species account
|
Click to enlarge.
(22kb)
|
