New York State Mammals

ORDER CARNIVORA

Family: Mustelidae

1. Fisher (Martes pennanti) 2. American marten (Martes americana) 3. Mink (Neovison vison) 4. Long-tailed weasel (Mustela frenata) 5. Short-tailed weasel (Mustela erminea) 6. River otter (Lontra canadensis)

Family: Mephitidae

1. Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis)

Family: Felidae

1. Bobcat (Lynx rufus)

FAMILY: Mustelidae

• Usually slender with short limbs

• Well developed anal scent glands

• Contains smallest Carnivora mammal

on earth

• Sexual dimorphism

•Males are larger than

females

• Carnassial teeth well

developed Least weasel 50 g

Fisher

Martes pennanti

• Habitat: Primarily forests

• Declining in west, but expanding in east

• Large mustelid

• Males: 3.5 kg

• Females: 2.5 kg

• Dark brown pelage

with silver/gold guard

hairs on face

American marten

Martes americana

• Habitat: Boreal forests

• Semi-arboreal

• Diet: red squirrels, other small

mammals, birds (seasonal)

• Smaller than fishers

• Males 1.5 kg

• Females 0.75 kg

• Auburn to brown pelage with

cream-colored throat patch

Mink

Neovison vison

• Habitat: near water,

usually in forests

• Nocturnal

• Diet: muskrats, rabbits,

mice, chipmunks, fish

• Males 1 kg

• Females 0.75 kg

• Dark brown-black pelage

with white chin patch

Long-tailed weasel Mustela frenata

• Habitat: Generalist, often avoids dense forests & high elevations

• Males 2x larger than females

• Tail at least ½ body length • Pelage: light brown dorsally,

cream-colored ventrally, black-tipped tail • White in

winter

Short-tailed weasel, “Ermine”

Mustela erminea

• Habitat: generalist

• Widespread across Holarctic

• Males 80 g

• Females 50 g

• Shorter tail than M. frenata

• Tail has black tip

• Pelage: brown during summer, white in winter

River otter

Lontra canadensis

• Habitat: healthy water

systems

• Will float on back and handle

food

• 5 -14 kg; Large and brown

• Webbed feet

• Orbits dorsally projected

• Broad rostrum

FAMILY: Mephitidae

•Formerly considered mustelids

•Skunks & stink badgers

Skunks:

•Known for noxious scent

•Omnivorous

•Nocturnal & Solitary

Stink Badger – Indonesia and Philippines

Striped skunk

Mephitis mephitis

• Habitat: agriculture, woodlands

• Anal glands able to spray

– Demonstrate warning stance prior to spraying

• 2 - 5 kg

• White stripes running down back meet at a “V” shape behind head

FAMILY: Felidae

• Built for carnivorous lifestyle:

1. Acute hearing and smell

2. Most have retractable claws

3. Night vision 6x greater than humans

4. Generally few teeth

• Shorter rostrum than most carnivores

• Generally elusive

Bobcat

Lynx rufus

• Habitat: generalist

• Only remaining wild felid in NYS

• Known to displace lynx

• Diet: rabbits, hares, squirrels

• Ear tufts < 1in

• 8 to 12 kg

• Short tail ( ~ 5”)

• Spotted fur

ORDER ARTIODACTYLA

Family: Cervidae

1. White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) 2. Moose (Alces alces)

FAMILY: Cervidae

• Antlers with velvet sheath

• No upper incisors

• Hoofs well developed

• Game species

• Herbivores

White-tailed deer

Odocoileus virginianus

• Habitat: edge species

• Very acclimated to urban areas

• Human-wildlife conflicts

• Most popular game species in US

• Antlers have a main beam

• No incisors or canines on upper jaw

• 32 teeth with selenodont molars

Selenodont - teeth with a

crown pattern of longitudinal

crescent-shaped ridges

Moose

Alces alces • Habitat: often near

water or regeneration

• Largest deer

• Powerful swimmer

• Palmate antlers

• Dewlap: Flap of skin hanging below lower jaw/neck

• 32 teeth, selenodont molars, no upper incisors or canines