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Jump to: navigation, search Conservation status Scientific
classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class:
Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Mustelidae Subfamily:
Mustelinae Genus: Mustela Species: M. erminea Binomial name
Mustela erminea Linnaeus, 1758 Stoat range (green—native,
red—introduced)  The stoat (Mustela erminea), also known as the
short-tailed weasel, is a species of Mustelidae native to
Eurasia and North America, distinguished from the least weasel
by its larger size and longer tail with a prominent black tip.
The name ermine is often, but not always, used for the animal in
its pure white winter coat, or the fur thereof.[2] Since the
late 19th century, stoats have been introduced to New Zealand to
control rabbits, but have had a devastating effect on native
bird populations (see stoats in New Zealand).  It is classed by
the IUCN as Least Concern, due to its wide circumpolar
distribution, and because it does not face any sig