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Family: Mustelidae

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Family: Mustelidae New York State Mammals ORDER CARNIVORA Family: Mustelidae 1. Fisher (Martes pennanti) 2. American marten (Martes americana) 3. Mink (Neovison vison) 4. Long-tailed weasel (Mustela frenata) 5. Short-tailed weasel (Mustela erminea) 6. River otter (Lontra canadensis) Family: Mephitidae 1. Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) Family: Felidae 1. Bobcat (Lynx rufus) FAMILY: Mustelidae • Usually slender with short limbs • Well developed anal scent glands • Contains smallest Carnivora mammal on earth • Sexual dimorphism •Males are larger than females • Carnassial teeth well developed Least weasel 50 g Fisher Martes pennanti • Habitat: Primarily forests • Declining in west, but expanding in east • Large mustelid • Males: 3.5 kg • Females: 2.5 kg • Dark brown pelage with silver/gold guard hairs on face American marten Martes americana • Habitat: Boreal forests • Semi-arboreal • Diet: red squirrels, other small mammals, birds (seasonal) • Smaller than fishers • Males 1.5 kg • Females 0.75 kg • Auburn to brown pelage with cream-colored throat patch Mink Neovison vison • Habitat: near water, usually in forests • Nocturnal • Diet: muskrats, rabbits, mice, chipmunks, fish • Males 1 kg • Females 0.75 kg • Dark brown-black pelage with white chin patch Long-tailed weasel Mustela frenata • Habitat: Generalist, often avoids dense forests & high elevations • Males 2x larger than females • Tail at least ½ body length • Pelage: light brown dorsally, cream-colored ventrally, black-tipped tail • White in winter Short-tailed weasel, “Ermine” Mustela erminea • Habitat: generalist • Widespread across Holarctic • Males 80 g • Females 50 g • Shorter tail than M. frenata • Tail has black tip • Pelage: brown during summer, white in winter River otter Lontra canadensis • Habitat: healthy water systems • Will float on back and handle food • 5 -14 kg; Large and brown • Webbed feet • Orbits dorsally projected • Broad rostrum FAMILY: Mephitidae •Formerly considered mustelids •Skunks & stink badgers Skunks: •Known for noxious scent •Omnivorous Stink Badger – Indonesia and Philippines •Nocturnal & Solitary Striped skunk Mephitis mephitis • Habitat: agriculture, woodlands • Anal glands able to spray – Demonstrate warning stance prior to spraying • 2 - 5 kg • White stripes running down back meet at a “V” shape behind head FAMILY: Felidae • Built for carnivorous lifestyle: 1. Acute hearing and smell 2. Most have retractable claws 3. Night vision 6x greater than humans 4. Generally few teeth • Shorter rostrum than most carnivores • Generally elusive Bobcat Lynx rufus • Habitat: generalist • Only remaining wild felid in NYS • Known to displace lynx • Diet: rabbits, hares, squirrels • Ear tufts < 1in • 8 to 12 kg • Short tail ( ~ 5”) • Spotted fur ORDER ARTIODACTYLA Family: Cervidae 1. White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) 2. Moose (Alces alces) FAMILY: Cervidae • Antlers with velvet sheath • No upper incisors • Hoofs well developed • Game species • Herbivores White-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus • Habitat: edge species • Very acclimated to urban areas • Human-wildlife conflicts • Most popular game species in US • Antlers have a main beam • No incisors or canines on upper jaw • 32 teeth with selenodont molars Selenodont - teeth with a crown pattern of longitudinal crescent-shaped ridges Moose Alces alces • Habitat: often near water or regeneration • Largest deer • Powerful swimmer • Palmate antlers • Dewlap: Flap of skin hanging below lower jaw/neck • 32 teeth, selenodont molars, no upper incisors or canines .
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