Biogroup “Weasels in Summer Fur”

The biogroup consists of two taxidermy specimens of the least weasel (Mustela nivalis L.) — an adult and a juvenile, both displaying the characteristic summer coat. The composition recreates the natural behaviour of this smallest member of the mustelid family in an environment resembling field and meadow habitats.

The animals are presented on a fragment of dry wood surrounded by plant litter. The summer coat of the least weasel is characterised by a reddish-brown colouration of the back and flanks, contrasting with the white fur of the underside. Its slender, elongated body, short limbs, and small head with rounded ears are morphological features of a species adapted to hunting in the burrows of small rodents.

The least weasel is distributed across almost the whole of Eurasia and is an important natural regulator of populations of mouse-like rodents. Its exceptionally flexible body enables it to enter narrow tunnels and the burrows of its prey. The biogroup illustrates the characteristic appearance of the species during the warm season and introduces visitors to one of the most agile predators of the local fauna.

The animals were found near the village of Ivashky, Poltava District, in 2020.

Provenance: The biogroup was acquired from S. K. Bezuholyi in 2021.