Mustela vison 

 

1. total length greater than 55 mm
2. blunt postorbital processes
3. upper molar dumbbell shaped
4. inflated auditory bullae
5. 34 teeth (DF = 3/3, 1/1, 3/3, 1/2)

mvvspvent1.jpg (42958 bytes) Click on this thumbnail to compare the relative distance the palatine extends posteriorly in one of the weasels (Mustela vison) versus the length of the same bone in a skunk (Spilogale putorius).

weaselsdors1.jpg (29456 bytes) Click this thumbnail to compare dorsal views of Mustela vison, M. nivalis, and M. frenata.