Ermines, also called stoats or short-tailed weasels, are small carnivorous mammals native to Eurasia and North America. They molt twice a year, in spring and fall. Their summer coat is short, rough, and brown in color with white on their throat, chest, and belly, and a black tail tip. In colder climates, their winter coats are thick, soft, and pure white in color with a black tail tip. The term "ermine" is also used in the fur trade to refer specifically to their coat, which has been sought after by many cultures dur to the pure white color. Ermine skins were utilized in garments by multiple Native American groups. It was also historically used in royal robes in Europe, in ecclesiastical garments in Christianity, and was the most sought-after pelt of the Soviet Union's fur trade.
- Catalog Number:
- 67968
- Object/Specimen Description:
- Specimen Count:
- 1
- Preparation Type:
- Mounted
- Upper Level Taxonomy:
- Animalia, Chordata, Vertebrata, Tetrapoda, Mammalia, Eutheria, Carnivora, Caniformia, Mustelidae, Mustelinae
All mammals have hair, outgrowths of the skin, during at least some part of their development. While it evolved to insulate animals in cold climates, mammal hair has various functions. Long, stiff hairs (vibrissae, or whiskers) are found in all mammals but humans. Whether on the face, legs, or tail, vibrissae extend an animal's sense of touch. Some mammals, such as porcupines, have enlarged hairs that function as defensive spines. Defense is also achieved by raising individual hairs to make an animal look larger (such as an angry cat). Muscles in the skin make the hair stand up or lie down. Raising and lowering hair changes how much air is trapped under it, which also makes it more or less insulating. Mammals in cold climates tend to have an extra layer of insulating fur, or extra fat under their fur. Mammals in climates that change seasonally shed and replace their hair to create a thicker winter coat and a thinner summer coat.