The European mink hybridizes with western polecat at low levels as only pure polecat males can mate with pure European mink females.
The European mink occasionally hybridizes with western polecat (Mustela putorius).
Both hybridization and genetic introgression occur at low levels (3% and 0.9% respectively) and the hybridization is asymmetric, as only pure polecat males can mate with pure European mink females. Backcrossing and genetic introgression has been detected only from female first-generation (F1) hybrids of European mink with polecats. As such, hybridization and genetic introgression between the two species can be considered a rather uncommon event.
• Image | ©️ Gustav Mützel, Public Domain
• Sources | (Davidson, et al., 2000; Maran, et al., 2016; Tumanov & Abramov, 2002)
