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Carnivora
Mustela putorius
Nomenclature
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Family: MustelidaeGenus: Mustela
SUMMARY
The Euroean polecat is a relatively small mustelid and the second member of the genus Mustela in Greece (the other is Mustela putorius). The main fur colors are black, brown and grey. In the face there are some white spots, but their range varies. The body length is 35-46 cm in males and 29-39 cm in females. The tail length is 11.5-16.7 cm in males and 8.4-15 cm in females. These measures show that the males are slightly larger than the females.
The European polecat is polygamous and a seasonal breeder. The gestation lasts about 40 days and the juveniles are born usually in May-June. They are independent in 2-3 months.
The diet of Mustela putorius consists mainly or rodents, amphibians and birds, but it also includes hedgehogs, snakes, insects, hares and sometimes carrion of large ungulates.