Do you think you know the European mink? Test your knowledge of European mink FaunaFacts with this trivia quiz!
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European Mink | Play on Quizizz
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Russian Mink
The European mink is also known as the Russian mink and Eurasian mink.
Eurasian Mink
The European mink is also known as the Russian mink and Eurasian mink.
Siberian Weasel
Western Mink
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True, males are larger.
There is sexual dimorphism in the European mink as males are longer than females and have longer tails.
True, females are larger.
False.
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Crepuscular
European mink are crepuscular and are most active around dusk and before day break.
Nocturnal
Diurnal
Cathemeral
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Wearing Apparel
The European mink was largely in the fur trade during the first half of the 20th century and was trapped for wearing apparel purposes.
Pets
Food
Sport Hunting
The European mink hybridizes with what species?
Western Polecat
The European mink occasionally hybridizes with western polecat (Mustela putorius).
American Mink
Stoat
Siberian Weasel
True
The winter fur of the European mink is very thick and dense, but not long, and quite loosely fitting. The underfur is water-repellent and particularly dense compared with that of more land-based members of the genus Mustela. The summer fur is somewhat shorter, coarser and less dense than the winter fur, though the differences are much less than in purely terrestrial mustelids.
False
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40%
The European mink’s tail constitutes about 40% of the animal’s total body length.
20%
60%
80%
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7
Currently, seven subspecies of European mink are recognized: M. l. biedermanni (French), M. l. binominata, M. l. cylipena (Middle European), M. l. lutreola (Northern), M. l. novikovi (Middle Russian), M. l. transsylvanica(Carpathian), and M. l. turovi (Caucasian).
0
17
27
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Western
The western European mink populations of Spain and France have very low genetic variability.
Southern
Eastern
Northern
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Boar
A male European mink is called a boar.
Dog
Buck
Tod
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Lips
The face has no color pattern, though both its upper and lower lips and chin are pure white. White markings may also occur on the lower surface of the throat, neck, chest, and stomach area.
Chin
The face has no color pattern, though both its upper and lower lips and chin are pure white. White markings may also occur on the lower surface of the throat, neck, chest, and stomach area.
Feet
Tail
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February-March
The European mink mating season occurs from February to March.
May-June
A young European mink is called a cub or kit.
August-September
November-December
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Carnivorous
The European mink is carnivorous .
Herbivorous
Omnivorous
Unknown
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True
In times of food abundance, it caches its food.
False
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True
The European mink has both a permanent burrow and temporary shelters.
False
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Decreased
The European mink was largely in the fur trade during the first half of the 20th century and were trapped for commercial purposes. As of 2014, there is no data on present trade. Some recent illegal fur trade to neighboring countries from Romania has stopped because the fur-markets in these countries have crashed.
Increased
Stabilized
What kind of animal is the European mink?
Mustelid
The European mink is a medium-sized, semiaquatic species of mustelid and a typical representative of the genus Mustela.
Procyonid
Viverrid
Pinniped
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2-3 Months
Young European mink become independent and disperse at the age 70–84 days.
1-2 Months
1-2 Years
5-6 Months
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More Compact
Compared to the Siberian weasel (Mustela sibirica), the European mink is more compact and less thinly built, thus approaching ferrets and western polecats in build. The skull bears more infantile features, such as a weaker dentition and less strongly developed projections.
Less Thin
Compared to the Siberian weasel (Mustela sibirica), the European mink is more compact and less thinly built, thus approaching ferrets and western polecats in build. The skull bears more infantile features, such as a weaker dentition and less strongly developed projections.
Weaker Dentition
Compared to the Siberian weasel (Mustela sibirica), the European mink is more compact and less thinly built, thus approaching ferrets and western polecats in build. The skull bears more infantile features, such as a weaker dentition and less strongly developed projections.
More Elongated Skull
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Decreasing
Populations of European mink have been in decline for both ecological and commercial reasons.
Increasing
Stable
Unknown
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Critically Endangered
The European mink is currently evaluated as Critically Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species because of an ongoing population reduction.
Endangered
Least Concern
Vulnerable
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No Stable Population
From 1981 to 1989, the European mink was introduced to southern Kurile Islands of Kunashir and Iturup, Russia, and Tajikistan, far away from the native distribution range. This introduction was unsuccessful; no stable populations were established in these islands.
Breeding Population of 100
Breeding Population of 1,000
Breeding Population of 10,000
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Small
The European mink does not form large territories, possibly due to the abundance of food on the banks of small water bodies.
Large
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Terrestrial
The European mink is a semiaquatic species and inhabits terrestrial and aquatic systems.
Aquatic
The European mink is a semiaquatic species and inhabits terrestrial and aquatic systems.
Aerial/Arboreal
Fossorial
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True
The European mink’s population is severely fragmented.
False
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Solitary
The European mink is a solitary species.
Solitary Males, Social Females
Social
Social Males, Solitary Females
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Wetlands
As a semiaquatic species, the European mink has specialized wetland habitat requirements.
Grassland
Shrubland
Forest
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Water Voles
Voles, such as European water vole (Arvicola amphibius) and southern water vole (Arvicola sapidus) are the most important food source, closely followed by crustaceans, frogs and water insects.
Crayfish
Frogs
Insects
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Golden Eagle
Predators of the European mink include the western polecat (Mustela putorius), the American mink (Neovison vison), the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), large owls, and the red fox (Vulpes vulpes).
Western Polecat
Predators of the European mink include the western polecat (Mustela putorius), the American mink (Neovison vison), the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), large owls, and the red fox (Vulpes vulpes).
Red Fox
Predators of the European mink include the western polecat (Mustela putorius), the American mink (Neovison vison), the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), large owls, and the red fox (Vulpes vulpes).
Southern Water Vole
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1 Year
There is only one litter per year.
2 Years
3 Months
6 Months
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1-2 Minutes
It is able to run along stream beds, and stay underwater for one to two minutes.
1-2 Hours
20-30 Minutes
10-20 Minutes
European mink and western polecats hybridization is asymmetric.
True, only male polecats can hybridize with female minks.
The hybridization is asymmetric, as only pure polecat males can mate with pure European mink females.
True, only female polecats can hybridize with male minks.
False.
How does the European Mink’s fur differ from the American mink?
Shorter
The European mink has a very thick and dense coat that is shorter, less dense, and more loosely fitting than that of the American mink.
Loose Fitting
The European mink has a very thick and dense, water-repellent coat that is shorter, less dense, and more loosely fitting than that of the American mink.
Denser
Color
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True, males’ are longer.
Tail length is 15.3–19 centimeters (6–7.5 inches) in males and 15–18 centimeters (5.9–7.1 inches) in females.
True, females’ are longer.
False.
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Mustela lutreola
The European mink’s scientific name is
Mustela lutreola.
Mustela lutreola.
Neovison vison
Mustela sibirica
Mustela putorius
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Southern
The southern population has slightly higher genetic variability, whilst the eastern populations have the greatest variability.
Western
Eastern
Northern
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Company
A group of European mink is called a company.
Troop
Tribe
Congress
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More
The European mink is more sedentary than the American mink (Neovison vison), and will confine itself for long periods in its burrow in very cold weather.
Less
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Cub
A young European mink is called a cub or kit.
Kit
A young European mink is called a cub or kit.
Pup
Joey
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140-180 g. / 5-6 oz.
The European mink’s daily food requirement is 140–180 grams (4.9–6.3 ounces).
40-80 g. / 1-3 oz.
240-280 g. / 8-10 oz.
340-380 g. / 12-13 oz.
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Generalized
The European mink has a diverse diet consisting largely of aquatic and riparian fauna.
Specialized
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Straw
Nesting chambers are lined with straw, moss, mouse wool, and bird feathers.
Mouse Wool
Nesting chambers are lined with straw, moss, mouse wool, and bird feathers.
Feathers
Nesting chambers are lined with straw, moss, mouse wool, and bird feathers.
Moss
Nesting chambers are lined with straw, moss, mouse wool, and bird feathers.
© Jo-Anne McArthur, Some Rights Reserved, Unsplash
Less
The higher quality of farmed American mink (Neovison vison) fur makes it highly unlikely that trading could become an issue in European mink conservation, though the European mink is still caught in small numbers in Russia by trappers hunting for American mink.
More
What is the European mink’s closest relative?
Western Polecat
Genetic analyses indicate it being much closer to the western polecat (Mustela putorius) and the Siberian weasel (Mustela sibirica), being intermediate in form between true polecats and other members of the genus.
American Mink
Stoat
Least Weasel
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1 Month
Young European mink are born blind, but are able to open their eyes after 30-31 days.
Birth
1 Day
1 Week
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Less
Overall, the skull is less specialized for carnivory than that of polecats and the American mink (Neovison vison), bearing more infantile features, such as a weaker dentition and less strongly developed projections.
More
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50%
In the last ten years, a period exceeding three generations, threats have inferred to have resulted in the loss of over half the population, and it is predicted to intensify in the next ten years to result in a decline rate exceeding 80%.
70%
90%
30%
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Pollution
The primary reason for population declines is commercial trapping for fur. However, the mink also suffers as a result of habitat degradation/loss, water pollution, and hydroelectric constructions. The introduction of invasive species, notably American Mink (Neovison vison), has also negatively impacted European mink populations.
Invasive Species
The primary reason for population declines is commercial trapping for fur. However, the mink also suffers as a result of habitat degradation/loss, water pollution, and hydroelectric constructions. The introduction of invasive species, notably American Mink (Neovison vison), has also negatively impacted European mink populations.
Biological Resource Use
The primary reason for population declines is commercial trapping for fur. However, the mink also suffers as a result of habitat degradation/loss, water pollution, and hydroelectric constructions. The introduction of invasive species, notably American Mink (Neovison vison), has also negatively impacted European mink populations.
Human Intrusions
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Breeding Population of 100
In an attempt to save the European mink, British and Estonian biologists established a breeding population on an island in the Baltic Sea in 2000. The establishment of this island population in Estonia has resulted in a small breeding population of fewer than 100 individuals in Hiiumaa Island.
No Stable Population
Breeding Population of 1,000
Breeding Population of 10,000
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Digitigrade
The European mink has a digitigrade form of locomotion.
Plantigrade
Other
Unguligrade
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Sow
A female European mink is called a sow.
Doe
Jenny
Cow
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Winter
Summer territories are smaller than winter territories.
Fall
Summer
Spring
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50,000
In the early 20th century, 40–60,000 European minks were caught annually in the Soviet Union, with a record of 75,000 individuals, an estimate which exceeds the modern global European mink population.
5,000
500
500,000
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Danube Delta
The results of an IUCN mission in 2014 to Romania showed that the Danube delta population is clearly the most viable in the world. According to the assessment, the population in the delta might be around 1,000 – 1,500 individuals.
Moscow
southern Kurile Islands
Hiiumaa Island
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Austria
Over the last 150 years, European mink has severely declined and been extirpated or greatly reduced over most of its former range, including Austria, Germany, and Poland.
Germany
Over the last 150 years, European mink has severely declined and been extirpated or greatly reduced over most of its former range, including Austria, Germany, and Poland.
Poland
Over the last 150 years, European mink has severely declined and been extirpated or greatly reduced over most of its former range, including Austria, Germany, and Poland.
Spain
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1 Year
Females are polyestrous and achieve sexual maturity at about 1 year.
2 Years
6 Months
3 Months
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Noble Crayfish
The decline of noble crayfish (Astacus astacus) has been proposed as a factor in the drop in European mink numbers, as minks are notably absent in the eastern side of the Urals, where crayfish are also absent.
American Mink
Golden Eagle
Southern Water Vole
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100 m. / 328 ft.
As a semiaquatic species, the European mink is rarely found more than 100 meters from freshwater.
1,000 m. / 3,281 ft.
10 m. / 33 ft.
1 m. / 3 ft.
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Not a Migrant
The European mink is not a migrant.
Full Migrant
Altitudinal Migrant
Nomadic
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Maternal
The European mink has a maternal parental investment.
Paternal
Both, Maternal & Paternal
None
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April-May
Births occur in April and May.
July-August
October-November
January-February
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True
When swimming, the mink paddles with both its front and back limbs simultaneously. Its limbs are short with relatively well-developed membranes between the digits, particularly on the hind feet.
False
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Shorter
The European mink’s tail is shorter than that of the American mink (Neovison vison).
Longer
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Europe
The European mink is native to Europe and Eurasia.
Asia
North America
Africa
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10 Weeks
The lactation period lasts 2-2.5 months, though the kits are weaned at about 10 weeks and begin eating solid food after 20–25 days.
2 Weeks
12 Weeks
20 Weeks
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Polygynous
Minks are known to be polygynous and polygynandrous.
Polygynandrous
Minks are known to be polygynous and polygynandrous.
Monogamous
Polyandrous
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10 Years
The European mink’s lifespan is 10 years.
5 Years
15 Years
20 Years
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Secondary Consumer
The European mink is carnivorous and preys on other carnivorous creatures, making it’s trophic level a secondary consumer.
Primary Consumer
Tertiary Consumer
Apex Predator
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2 Years
The European mink’s generation length is 2 years.
10 Years
12 Years
20 Years
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2-7
The number of young in a litter is between two and seven, but usually the litter is around four or five. Litters as large as 16 have been recorded at fur farms.
1
11-16
20-25
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Less
The European mink is a fast and agile animal, which swims and dives skillfully, but is reportedly less efficient than the American mink (Neovison vison) species underwater.
More
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