Japanese Weasel vs Merlin

Mustela itatsi compared with Falco columbarius

Key Differences

• Japanese Weasel is Near Threatened while Merlin is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Japanese Weasel	Merlin
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Aves (Birds)
Order	Carnivora (Carnivorans)	Falconiformes (Falconiformes)
Family	Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters)	Falconidae
Genus	Mustela	Falco
Species	Mustela itatsi	Falco columbarius

Evolutionary Relationship

Japanese Weasel and Merlin share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

Japanese Weasel

NT — Near Threatened

Merlin

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Japanese Weasel	Merlin
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Japanese Weasel

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found in Japan. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Merlin

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Widely distributed across Europe (5 countries), North America (United States), and South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela).

Merlin

Merlin (Falco columbarius) is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List. Widespread and abundant across its range, with stable populations and no immediate conservation concerns.