WildlifeOfEverywhere.com
‹ Back

Altai Mountain Weasel

Mustelidae

Photo: Asif N Khan · CC BY-SA 4.0 (May be cropped or resized)

Mustela altaica

Basic stats

Diet

Mainly pikas and voles; also other small vertebrates and insects

Habitat

High-altitude rocky tundra and grassy woodland

Range

Central and eastern Asia, including Mongolia

Litter size

1–8

Gestation period

30–49 days

The mountain weasel, Altai weasel, or solongoi is a small long-bodied mustelid with short legs and only slight size difference between the sexes. Its summer coat is grey to grey-brown washed with pale yellow, while winter fur becomes darker yellow-brown; the underside remains pale yellow to creamy white. The crown is often darker, the lips white, and the tail may be more reddish than the back. Seasonal moults occur in spring and autumn. The exact measurements shown in the consulted page were incomplete, so they are not reproduced. (Wikipedia, general species account)

The species inhabits high-altitude country, rocky tundra, and grassy woodland from Central Asia to Mongolia, northern China, and southern Siberia. It shelters in rock crevices, hollow trunks, and abandoned prey burrows. Mainly nocturnal but sometimes active by day, it climbs, runs, and swims and hunts pikas and voles, supplemented by ground squirrels, rabbits, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and insects. Mating usually occurs in February or March; after a 30–49-day gestation, one to eight dependent young are born, generally in May. (Wikipedia, general species account)

Quick answers

What does the Altai Mountain Weasel eat?
Mainly pikas and voles; also other small vertebrates and insects
What habitat does the Altai Mountain Weasel live in?
High-altitude rocky tundra and grassy woodland
Where is the Altai Mountain Weasel found?
Central and eastern Asia, including Mongolia
What is the litter size of the Altai Mountain Weasel?
1–8
How long is the gestation period of the Altai Mountain Weasel?
30–49 days
📷 Upload a photo of this species
🏠Home 🗺️Regions 🐾Species 📋Planner 📷Sightings 🔍Search