The taxonomic status of the Japanese weasel, Mustela itatsi (Carnivora, Mustelidae)

摘要

The taxonomic status of Mustela itatsi Temminck, 1844 is discussed. The Japanese weasel was considered as a Mustela sibirica subspecies. Twenty-three measurements of skulls in Japanese and Siberian weasels from different habitats were analyzed. The discriminant analysis revealed a significant difference between these two forms. The difference is greater than that between different polulations of the Siberian weasel from the whole Siberian territory and from the Far East. M. itatsi is distiguished from M. sibirica by its smaller and narrower skull. The morphotypic features, size, coloration of skull, and bacula, were also studied. The taxonomic status of M. itatsi as an independent species is confirmed by cytoggenetic data.