Long-tailed Weasel Mustela Frenata Research Articles

El mayor registro de elevación de Mustela frenata (Carnivora: Mustelidae) y distribución en el departamento de Calda, región andina de Colombia

The long-tailed weasel Mustela frenata Lichtenstein, 1831 has the greatest geographical range among mustelids in the western hemisphere (Harding & Dragoo 2012). The range of M. frenata extends from the north of the United States, near the Canadian border, to northern South America (Sheffield & Thomas 1997), from sea level to 3800 masl (Sheffield & Thomas 1997, Reid & Helgen 2008).

Parasitism of mustelids by ixodid ticks (Acari: Ixodidae), Maine and New Hampshire, U.S.A

Ticks collected from mustelids from four counties in Maine and one in New Hampshire were identified after harvest. Of the 18 fishers Martes pennanti Erxleben, two mink Neovison vison Schreber, and one long-tailed weasel Mustela frenata Lichtenstein, 589 ticks were collected and identified. They were identified as, in order of abundance, Ixodes gregsoni Lindquist, Wu, and Redner (158 larvae, 189 nymphs, four adults), Ixodes cookei Packard (99 larvae, 77 nymphs, six adults), Ixodes scapularis Say (53 adults), Dermacentor variabilis Say (two nymphs), and Ixodes angustus Neumann (one nymph). Seasonally, all but the D. variabilis were collected in winter. This study reports the first record of adult I. scapularis from a M. pennanti in the northeastern United States.

Camera trap survey of medium and large mammals in a montane rainforest of northern Peru

Camera traps are a powerful tool for inventorying elusive and rare species and very useful to obtain ecologi- cal data for plans that involve wildlife conservation. In Peru, several surveys have been carried out in lowland Amazonia especially in the southeastern part of the country, but none in montane cloud forests or Yungas. We present the first camera trap studies produced in Peruvian Yungas at the locality of Querocoto village (Chota, Cajamarca), based on 2002 (dry season) and 1264 (wet season) camera traps-days (CTD). Two localities were surveyed in wet and dry season: The Pagaibamba Protection Forest and the San Lorenzo Forest. The wet season study was carried out in October and November, and the dry season in July to September of 2008. Eight mammalian species were recorded in both seasons. Some 66 (91.7%) independent records were obtained in the dry season, but only six (8.3%) in the wet one, suggesting a seasonality effect. The Mountain Paca Cunicu- lus taczanowskii was the most commonly photographed species, with 17.0 and 1.6 capture frequencies (dry and wet season respectively), whereas the Long-tailed weasel Mustela frenata (0.5 capture frequency in the dry season) was the most rare species. Activity patterns suggest that Mountain Paca C. taczanowskii and the Andean Skunk C. chinga are nocturnal, while Spectacled Bear T. ornatus and Tayra E. barbara are diurnal in the study area. Our records of the Ocelot Leopardus pardalis and the Tayra E. barbara are among the highest altitudinal records known for each species. In addition, the Anta Tapirus pinchaque was also identified by its tracks, representing one of the first record known south of the Huancabamba Depression.

Fossil carnivores from the Leisey Shell Pits, Hillsborough County, Florida

Thirteen species of carnivores have been recovered from the Leisey Shell Pits, late early Irvingtonian of Florida. These species include Armbruster's wolf Canis armbrusteri, the wolf coyote Canis edwardii, the gray fox Urocyon cinereoargenteus, the tremarctine bear Arctodus pristinus, the gracile sabercat Smilodon gracilis, the machairodont Homotherium sp., the bobcat Lynx rufus, the cheetah-like cat Miracinonyx inexpectatus, the raccoon Procyon lotor, the long-tailed weasel Mustela frenata, the spotted skunk Spilogale putorius, the river ottor Lutra canadensis, and the Caribbean monk seal Monachus tropicalis. Of significance, the Leisey carnivore fauna includes (1) the largest, most complete sample of Smilodon gracilis, and (2) the first Irvingtonian record from Florida of Lutra canadensis. The Leisey carnivores rank with those from Coleman 2A and Inglis IA as the most diverse carnivore faunas known from the Irvingtonian of Florida.

Molineus mustelae sp. n. (Nematoda: Trichostrongylidae) from the Long-Tailed Weasel in Montana and M. chabaudi nom. n., with a Key to the Species of Molineus

Molineus mustelae sp. n. is described from seven males and seven females collected from the duodenum of the long-tailed weasel Mustela frenata in Montana. The species is differentiated from M. patens, the only species in Molineus previously reported from this weasel, and M. felineus, the species most closely resembling it. Molineus major Chabaud, Petter, and Brygoo, 1961 is amended to Molineus chabaudi (Chabaud, Petter, and Brygoo, 1961) nom. n. A key to the species of Molineus is presented. Two specimens of the long-tailed weasel Mustela frenata, collected in the vicinity of Missoula, Montana, in January and March 1964, were found to be infected with a previously undescribed species of trichostrongylid nematode. One weasel harbored 4 specimens, the other 17, in the duodenum. Three shorttailed weasels M. erminea from the same locality were not infected with this parasite. The following description is based upon seven males and seven females. Molineus mustelae sp. n.