Japanese Weasel vs

Mustela itatsi compared with Nitzschia flexa

Key Differences

• Japanese Weasel is Near Threatened while is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Japanese Weasel
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Chromista (Chromista)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Ochrophyta (Ochrophyta)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Bacillariophyceae (Bacillariophyceae)
Order	Carnivora (Carnivorans)	Bacillariales (Bacillariales)
Family	Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters)	Bacillariaceae
Genus	Mustela	Nitzschia
Species	Mustela itatsi	Nitzschia flexa

Conservation Status

Japanese Weasel

NT — Near Threatened

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Japanese Weasel
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.

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Norway and Sweden.

Nitzschia flexa is a pennate diatom (class Bacillariophyceae) with a characteristically curved or bent raphe system that gives the genus its distinctive appearance. It inhabits freshwater to brackish environments and contributes to benthic and planktonic algal communities. As a photosynthetic microalga, it plays a foundational role in aquatic food webs and primary production.