Patagonian weasel
Species of carnivore
The Patagonian weasel (Lyncodon patagonicus) is a small mustelid that is the only member of the genus Lyncodon. Its geographic range is the Pampas of western Argentina and sections of Chile. An early mention of the animal is in the Journal of Syms Covington, who sailed with Charles Darwin on his epic voyage aboard HMS Beagle.
01Description
The Patagonian weasel has a head and body length of 300-350 mm (12-14 inches), with a tail that is 60-90 mm (2.4-3.5 inches). Its fur is primarily whitish, interspersed with black and dark brown tones. It has small ears, short legs and a bushy tail. The species has not been extensively studied in the wild, so its behavioral patterns remains largely unknown. It is reported to have been kept as a working pet by local ranchers to destroy rodents.
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Patagonian weasel”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
Images, from Wikimedia Commons:
- Lyncodon patagonicus1.jpg by Butterfly voyages - Serge Ouachée, CC BY-SA 3.0
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