User:Jaspergeli/Stoat

A small carnivorous mammal of the weasel family that has chestnut fur with white underparts and a black-tipped tail. It is native to both Eurasia and North America and in northern areas, the coat turns white in winter.

The stoat (Mustela erminea), also known as simply, weasel, in Ireland, where the weasel (Mustela nivalis) does not occur, is a mammal of the genus Mustela of the family Mustelidae native to Eurasia and North America, distinguished from the weasel by its larger size and longer tail with a prominent black tip. Originally from Eurasia, it crossed into North America some 500,000 years ago, where it naturalized and joined the notably larger, closely related native long-tailed weasel.

The name "ermine" is used for any species in the genus Mustela, especially the stoat, in its pure white winter coat, or the fur thereof.