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Ferret

2022-10-22T11:58:57Z

2601:18D:4700:2D30:94BF:1851:F349:9B66: /* Real ferrets */

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[[Image:Domestic-ferret-face.jpg|thumb|right|A domestic ferret]]
'''Ferrets''' are a species of [[mustelid]]. Technically, only members of the genus and species ''mustela putorius'' are 'true ferrets', but a number of loosely related species with similar physical forms and lifestyles (such as the endangered [[black-footed ferret]]) are known by that name.

==Real ferrets==
Male ferrets are known as ''hobs'', female ferrets as ''jills''. Spayed, male ferrets are known as ''hobbles'', female ferrets as ''sprites''. Young ferrets are ''kits'', and a [[List of animal collective nouns|group]] of ferrets is a ''business''.

They are known as slinky, active creatures, and have been domesticated for millennia, with the first known usage of domestic ferrets (to protect grain stores from rodents) dating back to 1500 BCE. As pets, ferrets are the third most common pet in the US (behind [[cat]]s and [[dog]]s).

As [[carnivore]]s, they need a diet high in fats and proteins and low in carbohydrates. A ferret's metabolism is also an exercise in extremes--the common domestic ferret (''Mustela putorius furo'') sleeps from 14 to 18 hours a day, and makes their owner's life a living hell (albeit a cute living hell) for the other 6 to 10 hours.

Some ferrets work at NASA, running cables through access spaces too small for a human to go through. A ferret's speed, relative strength, intelligence, and ability to be trained makes them ideally suited for this task.

Like other mustelids, ferrets have scent glands. However, they get them surgically removed, but this practice is unnecessary.

==Furry ferrets==
[[Image:Extinctioners Cast Angelica.jpg|left|thumb|[[Angelica Ferroti]], a fictional '''ferret''' character in [[Extinctioners]]]]
In the furry fandom, ferrets generally do not sleep from 14 to 18 hours a day, but otherwise resemble their animal counterparts. In many instances, the flexibility of their real-life counterparts is taken to extremes.

The ''[[Funday PawPet Show]]'' features many ferret characters, most notably [[Poink T. Ferret]].

In ''[[Supermegatopia]]'', [[Ferret Man]] is the setting's premiere antihero. In this, he represents the common American misconceptions that ferrets are vicious, and unsuitable around children; Ferret Man is violent, taking no prisoners and cleaning up the city by leaving even 'mild' criminals as a greasy smear on the street.

==See also==
*[[:Category:Ferret characters]]

==External links==
*[http://www.ferret.org/ The American Ferret Association]
*[http://furry.de/miavir/stories/key.ferret.html Stories with "Ferret" species keyword] at [[Mia's Index of Anthro' Stories]]
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferret "Ferret" at Wikipedia]

[[Category:Mustelid species]]

[[it:Furetto]]
[[ru:Хорьки]]

Weasel

2022-10-22T11:56:42Z

2601:18D:4700:2D30:94BF:1851:F349:9B66: /* Fictional weasel characters */

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'''Weasels''' are small [[carnivorous]] [[mammal]]s with slender bodies and short legs.

Fictional weasel characters created within the [[fandom]] include [[Supermegatopia]]'s [[Weasel Boy]] and [[Tracy Kazaleh]]'s [[Shadow]] and [[Miniver]].

Individuals adopting weasel [[persona character]]s include [[Cargo]], [[Micole]], [[Sebkha]], and [[Silent Red]].

==Biology==
The term "weasel" usually refers to any of three archetypal species:
* ''Mustela erminea'' (the stoat, ermine, or short-tailed weasel)
* ''Mustela frenata'' (the long-tailed weasel)
* ''Mustela nivalis'' (the least weasel).
Although little-seen, these species are widespread and highly successful throughout the northern hemisphere.

Weasels are the most characteristic members of the zoological family [[Mustelidae]], which itself is commonly called the "weasel family". The least weasel is the smallest member of the zoological order [[Carnivora]].

In addition to the better known species, there are a large number of exotic and obscure weasel species such as ''Mustela sibirica'' (the kolinsky, or Siberian weasel) and ''Poecilogale albinucha'' (the north African striped weasel).

The diminutive size and elongate shape of a weasel is both a strength and a terrible curse. A weasel is capable of working its way through any passage its head will fit through, allowing it to pursue burrowing rodents into their lairs where other predators cannot go. No part of their small, elongated bodies are far from the surface however, so weasels lose body heat at a tremendous rate. The furnace-like metabolism required to offset this energy loss forces them to be hyperactive, voracious hunters. A weasel needs to hunt successfully 5-10 times each day to keep from freezing in an arctic environment.

==Mythology==
[[Image:Uniform forcewave.jpg|left|thumb|[[Forcewave]], a fictional '''weasel''' character in [[Extinctioners]]]]The ermine's white coat was a symbol of purity in medieval Europe. Folklore held that an ermine would rather die than be sullied, and that it could be trapped if encircled by filth.

European folklore also holds that stoats can hypnotize their prey by dancing.

The weasel is supposedly the only animal capable of killing a [[basilisk]].

The '''kamaitachi''' ("sickle weasel") is a supernatural Japanese weasel which moves too fast to be seen and attacks by cutting its victims with a sickle.

For the Klamanth people of Oregon, Mink is a mythological hero and Weasel is his troublesome younger brother.
==Fictional weasel characters==
*Buck (''[[Ice Age]]'')
*Duke Weaselton (''[[Zootopia]]'')
*Humanimalian weasels (''[[Extinctioners]]'')
**Forcewave
**Mindswipe
*I.M. Weasel (''I Am Weasel'')

== See also ==

* [[Wikipedia:Weasel|Weasel]] at Wikipedia
* [[:Category:Weasel characters|Weasel characters]]

==External links==
* Arkive's collection of [http://www.arkive.org/species/ARK/mammals/Mustela_erminea/ stoat] and [http://www.arkive.org/species/ARK/mammals/Mustela_nivalis/ weasel] images
* TV Tropes memes: [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/WeaselMascot Weasel Mascot] for positive depictions, and [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Ptitle0ie6y3l8?from=Main.EverythingsWickedWithWeasels Everything's Wicked With Weasels] for negative depictions

==References==
===Fiction===
* ''Kine'' by A. R. Lloyd, Hamlyn Paperbacks 1982
* '"Na", appearing in ''Pork'', by Cris Freddi, Corgi Books 1983
* ''[[The Welkin Weasels]]'' series by [[Garry D. Kilworth]], Corgi Books 1997-
* Various appearances in the ''[[Redwall]]'' series by [[Brian Jacques]], most notably Ferahgo the Assassin.

===Nonfiction===
* ''The Natural History of Weasels & Stoats'' by Carolyn King, Cornell University Press 1989
* "Stoats in the Priory", television documentary in the ''Wildlife on One'' series, BBC Bristol, 1996

[[Category:Mustelid species]]
[[ru:Ласки и хорьки]]
[[it:Donnola]]

Wolverine

2022-10-22T11:53:50Z