The European mink paddles with its short, membraned front and back limbs simultaneously and can stay underwater for 1-2 minutes, but is not as efficient underwater as the American mink.
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.
It is able to run along stream beds, and stay underwater for one to two minutes.
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.
• Image | ©️ Paco Gómez, Some Rights Reserved, (CC BY-SA 2.0)
• Sources | (Heptner & Sludskii 2002; The Wikimedia Foundation, 2020a; Youngman, 1990)
