Japanese Weasel vs Stoat, Ermine

Mustela itatsi compared with Mustela erminea

Key Differences

• Japanese Weasel is Near Threatened while Stoat, Ermine is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Japanese Weasel	Stoat, Ermine
Kingdom same	Animalia (动物界)	Animalia (动物界)
Phylum same	Chordata (脊索动物门)	Chordata (脊索动物门)
Class same	Mammalia (哺乳動物)	Mammalia (哺乳動物)
Order same	Carnivora (食肉目)	Carnivora (食肉目)
Family same	Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters)	Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters)
Genus same	Mustela	Mustela
Species	Mustela itatsi	Mustela erminea

Evolutionary Relationship

Japanese Weasel and Stoat, Ermine share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Mustela.

Conservation Status

Japanese Weasel

NT — Near Threatened

Stoat, Ermine

VU — Vulnerable

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Japanese Weasel	Stoat, Ermine
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.

Stoat, Ermine

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, among 6 distinct biome types spanning the Australasia and Indomalayan and Oceanian realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Indonesia), Europe (6 countries), North America (United States), and Oceania and the Pacific (New Zealand). Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Stoat, Ermine

白鼬（Mustela erminea）在IUCN红色名录中被列为易危（VU）。在野外面临较高的濒危风险，种群数量下降，栖息地压力增加。