Wildlifeof China
Yellow-bellied Weasel
Bears, Dogs & Otters
Photo: (c) Mark, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY
Mustela kathiah
Basic stats
Diet
Primarily mice, rats and voles, with birds and other small mammals
Habitat
Montane pine forest and areas above the timberline
Range
Northern Pakistan through the Himalayas and Southeast Asia to southeastern China
Size
25–27cm head–body length; 12.5–15cm tail
Weight
About 1.56kg
The yellow-bellied weasel has a dark-brown back and tail sharply contrasting with yellow underparts. Its upper lip, chin and throat are paler yellow-white, and its exposed foot pads and largely bare hind soles are also distinctive. The narrow body allows it to enter rodent burrows. Adults measure 25–27cm from head to body, with a 12.5–15cm tail, and average mass is reported as 1.56kg. (Animal Diversity Web)
The species ranges from northern Pakistan through the Himalayas and Southeast Asia to southeastern China. It favours mountain pine forest between roughly 1,800m and 4,000m and is sometimes found above the timberline. Yellow-bellied weasels are solitary, territorial predators with keen sight, hearing and smell. They hunt mainly mice, rats and voles, pursuing them underground and killing with a bite to the neck; birds and other small mammals are also taken. (Animal Diversity Web)
Quick answers
- What does the Yellow-bellied Weasel eat?
- Primarily mice, rats and voles, with birds and other small mammals
- What habitat does the Yellow-bellied Weasel live in?
- Montane pine forest and areas above the timberline
- Where is the Yellow-bellied Weasel found?
- Northern Pakistan through the Himalayas and Southeast Asia to southeastern China
- How big is the Yellow-bellied Weasel?
- 25–27cm head–body length; 12.5–15cm tail
- How much does the Yellow-bellied Weasel weigh?
- About 1.56kg