55.

Egyptian Weasel

Mustela subpalmata

French: Belette d'Egypte / German: Agyptisches Wiesel / Spanish: Comadreja egipcia

Taxonomy. Mustela subpalmata Hemprich & Ehrenberg, 1833,

Egypt.

The Egyptian Weasel has often been considered conspecific with the Least Weasel, but is now recognized as a separate species. Monotypic.

Distribution. Egypt.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 27-30 cm, tail 10.7-12.9 cm; weight 45-130 g, but females are smaller than males. The morphology is very similar to that of the Least Weasel.

Habitat. Fields and along irrigation canals. Also found in towns and villages.

Food and Feeding. Diet is said to include small mammals and insects.

Activity patterns. Nothing known.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Nothing known.

Breeding. Nothing known.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern in The IUCN Red List. Virtually nothing is known about this species;it is a high priority for field studies to learn more about its natural history, ecology, and conservation status.

Bibliography. Setzer (1958), Van Zyll de Jong (1992), Wozencraft (2005).