Hello again, welcome back to animals under threat. Today, we will be covering a species of mustelid from Europe. This mustelid is currently one of the most endangered mammal species found in Europe with threats from habitat destruction and introduction of invasive species has reduced the population of this mustelid. Say hello to the European Mink (Mustela lutreola).
The European mink is a small mustelid that is found in forest areas in Eurasia near rivers and lakes due to its semi aquatic nature and is rarely found more than 100m away from freshwater sources (Maran et al, 2016). Weighing around 550-800 grams and at a length of 31.5cm for females/38cm for males, the European mink feeds on a variety of aquatic life such as crabs, fish, frogs, and salamanders. They will also feed on mice, hares, aquatic birds, and their eggs while been able to take down prey larger than themselves (globalconservation.org, 2023).
European mink
historic range (red), confirmed current range (orange), possible current range
(purple). Map courtesy IUCN.
Female European Minks breed in the first year on their
life and have a single litter each year after the first with the number of
young ranging from 3-7. Females stay close to lagoon/ rivers to provide food
for their young and to protect them from predators (Mañas et al, 2016). In
captive, male European Minks displayed high levels of boldness for exploration
during breeding season while females became less bold (Maran et al, 2018).
Habitat destruction and the introduction of invasive
species such as American Mink (Neogale vison) have negatively impacted
the European Mink population since the 19th century. Destruction of
the rivers and lakes for housing has destroy the mink’s potential dens and food
sources as the European mink needs aquatic environments due to its semi aquatic
nature (Zuberogoitia et al, 2013). The introduction of the American mink for
the fur trade as led to minks escaping from cages and breeding in the wild.
Competition for resources between the two species has affected the population
of the European mink due to the American mink’s aggressiveness, leading to the
European mink been driven from their habitats (Maran et al, 2018).
Next time, we will be covering a critically endangered species of Muridae endemic to the Northern Territory, Australia.
References
https://globalconservation.org/species-facing-extinction/european-mink/
Maran, T., Skumatov, D., Gomez, A., Põdra, M., Abramov, A.V. & Dinets, V. 2016. Mustela lutreola. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T14018A45199861. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T14018A45199861.en. Accessed on 06 May 2023.
Mañas, S., Gómez, A., Asensio, V., Palazón, S., Pǒdra, M., Casal, J., & Ruiz-Olmo, J. (2016). Demographic structure of three riparian mustelid species in Spain. European Journal of Wildlife Research, 62(1), 119–129. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-015-0982-
Maran, Tiit and others, 'European mink: restoration attempts for a species on the brink of extinction', in David W. Macdonald, Chris Newman, and Lauren A. Harrington (eds), Biology and Conservation of Musteloids (Oxford, 2017; online edn, Oxford Academic, 18 Jan. 2018), https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198759805.003.0017, accessed 6 May 2023.
Zuberogoitia, I. et al. (2013) The impact of river
fragmentation on the population persistence of native and alien mink: an
ecological trap for the endangered European mink. Biodiversity and
conservation. [Online] 22 (1), 169–186
