Weaseling Your Way Into This Quiz

Answer:

The Mustelidae (from the Latin "mustela" meaning weasel) are one of the families in the mammal order Carnivora. They are also the largest family in the suborder Caniformia, which includes carnivorans with dog-like characteristics such as non-retractable claws and an often omnivorous diet. Mustelids are divided into nine subfamilies, which comprise about 70 living species of varied size and behaviour. These mammals are native to every continent except Australia (where a few species have been introduced) and Antarctica. Some mustelids are highly prized for their fur, which has threatened their survival, and driven at least one species to extinction before the advent of fur farming. A distinctive feature of many members of the weasel family is their anal scent glands, which secrete a nasty-smelling compound used for marking territory.

The wolverine (Gulo gulo) is the largest land-dwelling mustelid, a denizen of the boreal forests and subarctic tundra of the Northern Hemisphere. Though about the size of a medium dog, it has the reputation of a ferocious, insatiable animal (its binomial name means "glutton"). While the wolverine has extremely strong jaws, and can kill much bigger prey than itself, such as caribou (reindeer) and other deer species, it is primarily a scavenger. The pine marten (Martes martes), native to Europe and Western Asia, and the sable (Martes zibellina), native to Russia and northern East Asia, are closely related to the wolverine, being all members of the subfamily Guloninae. They are small, arboreal animals whose soft, luxurious fur has been valued since the Middle Ages.

Also known as ratel, the honey badger (Mellivora capensis) is the only living member of the subfamily Mellivorinae, with 12 recognized subspecies. A native of Africa and Southwest and South Asia, it is a long-bodied animal with black and white fur and thick, loose skin. The honey badger is omnivorous, and - as its name suggests - often raids beehives to feed on honey. Its reputation for fearlessness is well deserved, as it is capable of repelling much larger predators if attacked.

The African zorilla (Ictonyx striatus), also known as striped polecat or African skunk, is a member of the subfamily Ichtyonichinae. Though only distantly related to the true skunks, which belong to the family Mephitidae, it does bear some resemblance to these mammals, in particular the striped skunk of North America, because of its strikingly-patterned, black-and-white fur. The zorilla's foul-smelling spray can repel most predators, especially other mammals.

The stoat (Mustela erminea), the ferret (Mustela furo), the European polecat (Mustela putorius) and the American mink (Neogale vison) all belong to the subfamily Mustelinae. They are small-sized animals, with the long, slender bodies characteristic of the mustelid family. While the European polecat is notorious for its foul-smelling secretions (hence its specific name, which means "stinking" in Latin), the ferret is a domesticated species that was originally bred for hunting rabbits, but has now become a popular pet in many parts of the world.

The stoat is also known as ermine - in particular when in its winter coat, which is all white except for a black tail. In the past, ermine fur was a symbol of royalty and high status, and was used to make capes, stoles, hats and other items of clothing. The American mink, though native to North America, has been introduced into other parts of the world, which has allowed the species to thrive - unlike its European counterpart, which is critically endangered. A semiaquatic species, this animal is now commercially farmed for its fur, and occasionally kept as a pet.

A native of the eastern North Pacific Ocean, the sea otter (Enhydra lutris) is a member of the subfamily Lutrinae, and the only living member of its genus. This marine mammal, the heaviest of the mustelids, has the distinction of possessing the densest fur in the animal kingdom - a thick, silky coat that insulates the animal from the cold waters of the ocean. Another unique feature of the sea otter (which is sadly endangered because of hunting and environmental threats) is that it is one of the few mammal species known to use tools.

The remaining six animals are members of different families of the order Carnivora. The bobcat belongs to the family Felidae, the aardwolf to the family Hyenidae, the Indian grey mongoose to the family Herpestidae, and the common genet to the family Viverridae - all of them feliforms. The fennec fox belongs to the family Canidae, and the raccoon to the family Procyonidae - both caniforms.