least weasel vs Mérida Brocket

Mustela nivalis compared with Mazama bricenii

Key Differences

• least weasel is Near Threatened while Mérida Brocket is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	least weasel	Mérida Brocket
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (Mammals)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Carnivora (Carnivorans)	Artiodactyla (Even-toed Ungulates)
Family	Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters)	Cervidae (Deer)
Genus	Mustela	Mazama
Species	Mustela nivalis	Mazama bricenii

Evolutionary Relationship

least weasel and Mérida Brocket share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (Mammals)

Conservation Status

least weasel

NT — Near Threatened

Mérida Brocket

VU — Vulnerable

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	least weasel	Mérida Brocket
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

least weasel

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, tundra, and tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, among 4 distinct biome types spanning the Australasia and Oceanian and Palearctic realms.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Sao Tome and Principe), Asia (Cyprus), Europe (11 countries), and Oceania and the Pacific (New Zealand). Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Mérida Brocket

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found in Venezuela. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

least weasel

least weasel (Mustela nivalis) is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List. Close to qualifying as threatened, with populations that may become vulnerable without conservation action.