鼬科（Mustelidae）,源自拉丁文 mustela（"鼬"）,因为该科的所有成员都是与鼬有关的动物.

Mustelidae, from Latim mustela (“weasel”), in reference to the fact that all the members of this family are weasel-related animals.

種的俗名 Common names of members

黃鼠狼,白鼬,獾,水獺,貂,大巢鼬,貂熊/狼獾.

Weasels, stoats, badgers, otters, martens, grisons, and wolverines

分佈 Distribution

除南极洲、澳大利亚和大多数大洋岛屿外的所有大陆.

All continents except Antarctica, Australia, and most oceanic islands.

體型 Size

较小的变体长度不到 20 公分,重量不到 30 克,最大的可达 1.7 米,重 45 公斤.

The smaller variants can be under 20 cm in length and 30 g in weight, and the largest up to 1.7 m and 45 kg.

形態描述 Morphology

牠们是典型的小型动物,身体细长,腿短,头骨短,耳朵短而圆,皮毛厚.牠们的肛门有气味腺,能分泌出气味浓烈的分泌物,用于发出性信号和标记领地.

They are typically small animals with elongated bodies, short legs, short skulls, short, round ears, and thick fur. They have anal scent glands that produce a strong-smelling secretion the animals use for sexual signaling and marking territory.

生態與棲息地 Habitat & Ecology

所有陆生栖息地：草原、森林、山地、沙漠等.

一些水生栖息地：淡水河、湖泊、沼泽、海岸.

All terrestrial habitats: grassland, forest, mountain, desert, etc.

Some aquatic habitats: fresh water river, lakes, marsh, coastal.

食性 Diet

牠们主要是肉食性的,尽管有些有时也吃蔬菜（水果、种子）.虽然牠们的牙齿并不完全相同,但牠们都有适合吃肉的牙齿,包括有剪切臼齿（经过改装的上下颌牙齿,可以让增大的、通常是自锐的边缘以剪切的方式相互通过）.

They are predominantly carnivorous, although some eat vegetable matter (fruits, seeds) at times. While not all of them share an identical dentition, they all possess teeth adapted for eating flesh, including the presence of shearing carnassials (aired upper and lower teeth modified in such a way as to allow enlarged and often self-sharpening edges to pass by each other in a shearing manner).

繁殖 Reproduction 

除交配期外,鼬科动物都是独居的.牠们的交配时间长达数小时,以刺激雌性身体排卵.牠们每年产一窝.只有雌性负责照顾幼崽.母鼬鼠会将幼鼬鼠关在洞穴或巢穴中,并保卫周围的领地,以获得食物和保护.

Mustelids are solitary except for the mating period. They copulate up to several hours to stimulate ovulation in the female body. They give birth to one litter per year. Only females are responsible for parenting care. Mothers will keep the young in a burrow or a den and defend the surrounding territories for food and protection.

已知的物種

Total species known

64

博物館收藏的物種

Species in the collection

6

在香港已知的物種

Species in Hong Kong

3

Reference

Macdonald, D. W. (2006). The Encyclopedia of mammals. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acref/9780199206087.001.0001.

Law, C. J., Slater, G. J., Mehta, R. S. (2019). Shared extremes by ectotherms and endotherms: Body elongation in mustelids is associated with small size and reduced limbs. Evolution, 73(4), 735–749. https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.13702.