Wildlifeof China
Altai Weasel
Bears, Dogs & Otters
Photo: (c) Johannes S., some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY
Mustela altaica
Basic stats
Diet
Primarily voles and pikas, supplemented by other small vertebrates, insects and occasionally juniper berries
Habitat
Mountain steppe, mixed taiga, tundra, rocky slopes and areas above the timberline
Range
Mountain regions of Asia from Russian Central Asia to Korea and northern India
Size
22–29cm head–body length; 9–15cm tail
Weight
122–350g
The mountain weasel, also called the Altai weasel, is a small, slender mustelid with short fur and a comparatively modest tail. Males measure 22–29cm from head to body and weigh 217–350g; females are 22–25cm long and weigh 122–220g. Coat colour varies among subspecies and seasons, but the animal retains the elongated body and short limbs characteristic of weasels. (Animal Diversity Web)
It inhabits Asian mountain country, including mixed taiga, highland steppe, rocky tundra and slopes above the timberline, sometimes above 3,500m. Mountain weasels shelter in rock crevices, among roots or in rodent burrows. They are chiefly nocturnal but sometimes hunt by day, moving quickly over the ground and also climbing or swimming. Voles and pikas form the main diet. (Animal Diversity Web)
Quick answers
- What does the Altai Weasel eat?
- Primarily voles and pikas, supplemented by other small vertebrates, insects and occasionally juniper berries
- What habitat does the Altai Weasel live in?
- Mountain steppe, mixed taiga, tundra, rocky slopes and areas above the timberline
- Where is the Altai Weasel found?
- Mountain regions of Asia from Russian Central Asia to Korea and northern India
- How big is the Altai Weasel?
- 22–29cm head–body length; 9–15cm tail
- How much does the Altai Weasel weigh?
- 122–350g