Introduction Flashcards
Family, genus, and species of ferrets.
Family Mustelidae, Mustela putorius furo
What is unique regarding the diversity of adaptation of members of the family Mustelidae?
No other carnivores shows such diversity of adaptation.
What primitive characteristics have Mustelids retained?
Relatively small size, short stocky legs, five toes per foot, elongated braincase, and short rostrum.
What is the central subfamily of the Mustelidae? What are the best known member genuses?
Subfamily Mustelinae.
Genus Mustela - Weasels, mink, and ferrets
Genus Martes - Martens
The genus Mustela is divided into what five subgenera?
Mustela- Weasels
Lutreola - European mink
Vison - American mink
Putorius - Ferrets
Grammogale - South American weasels
When were ferrets domesticated? For what purpose?
For more than 2000 years. For rabbit hunting - were sent into rabbit burrows.
Where has the domesticated ferret established feral colonies?
Not in the US, despite being introduced by settlers. Has established in New Zealand and contributed to decline in native species.
When was the ferret first used in biomedical research? In what projects?
1900s. Classic experiments with influenza pathogenesis.
What commercial stocks of ferrets are available? How are they based? What is the most common stock?
Based on coat color. Albino, sable (fitch), Siamese, silver mitt, and Siamese-silver mitt.
Fitch or wild coat color most common. Yellow-buff fur with patches of black or dark brown, particularly on tail and limbs.
What is the concern regarding large-scale commercial breeding operations?
Inbreeding that has made animals susceptible to disease.
Suggested that 75% of US ferrets with a blaze or white head can suffer from Waardenburg syndrome and are deaf.
What are characteristics of albino ferrets?
Impaired motion perception and contrast sensitivity.
