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PAGE INDEX 1. Ferret, lateral view 2. Mink, lateral view 3. Ferret & Mink compared 4. Details of specimens illustrated |
It is possible to separate Mink from wild Polecat skulls, but the situation iscomplicated by the presence of feral Ferrets which are variable and tend to overlap with both Polecats and Mink in some features. The examples illustrated here show that the Ferret skull is more robust in appearance, with a bigger occipital crest. |
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1.Polecat-ferret, male, lateral view. This animal was a large tame ferret with polecat markings. ("Brian") |
 | 2. American Mink, male, lateral view |
  | 3. Polecat-Ferret (L) and Mink (R), ventral views, compared. |
- Image 1
- Ferret Mustela furo
- Sex - male
- Stage - adult
- Collection ref. 93.015
- Date collected - October 93
- Area collected - Northumberland
- Source - died in captivity
- Measurements
Condylobasal length 67mm Zygomatic width 41mm Jaw length 41mm Interorbital width 16.5mm Postorbital constriction 14mm - Sex - male
- Image 2
- Mink Mustela vison
- Sex - male
- Stage - adult
- Collection ref. 91.007
- Date collected - September 91
- Area collected - Northumberland
- Source - trapped
- Measurements
Condylobasal length 60mm Zygomatic width 34mm Jaw length 33mm Interorbital width 13mm Postorbital constriction 13mm Latin Name : Mustela "a weasel";xputorius"evil smelling,xfuro "a thief",xvison- French word for the American Mink.
- Sex - male