Kunih family - predatory mammals

The marten family unites many phylogenetically related species, however, very different in adaptive features, body structure and lifestyle.

Most of them are small, although there are medium ones. Their body weight varies from 100 grams to 40 kg, and their length is from 15 to 150 cm. The body is massive, elongated and very flexible.

The Kunih family, or rather its representatives, is distinguished by a developed hairline. The color of the coat is diverse. There is monophonic, and spotty, and striped. There are species in which the coat is darker below and lighter on top. By season, such animals change their splendor and density.

Kunih family: representatives

The whole family is divided into three subfamilies: martens, skunks, badgers and otters.

Let's start with the first …

Marten subfamily

Weasel is the smallest animal with a thin elongated body. It is found where the most rodents.
Ermine. It looks like a caress, but it is more. Another distinctive feature is the black tip of the tail. This furry animal of the marten family breeds once a year.
Solongoy. It is larger than an ermine. As a rule, representatives of this species inhabit treeless mountains and plains of Central Asia, East and China. Mates in the winter and spring. The duration of the female’s pregnancy is about 33 days.
Speakers. A furry animal with a dense body, whose length reaches 39 centimeters. The end of the muzzle is white, and a black mask is “put on” near the eyes. The tail is usually brighter than the back.
European and American mink. These animals live near a reservoir. They dive perfectly, swim. Mate, usually in the spring.
Ferrets. There are three varieties of them: steppe, black and black-footed. There is another species - African ferret - this is an albinoid form of black. The largest of all is the steppe.
Bandaging. A furry animal that lives in the steppes, deserts and semi-deserts.
Forest and stone marten. The fur of these animals is very thick and beautiful. It is light in stone, and dark brown in forest.
Sable. Outwardly, it resembles a marten, only the tail is shorter. This animal is widespread in the territory of the former USSR.
Ilka - this beast is larger than the previously described species. The mass reaches 8 kg.
Kharza is a strong beast with an elongated body. Its coat is smooth, coarse, shiny.
Tyra is an inhabitant of the forests of South, Central America and Southern Mexico.
The grisons. There are two types of them: small grisons and grisons. They live in wooded and open areas.
Zorilla lives in Africa
Spotted ferret lives in North Africa
Wolverine is an animal with a massive body, powerful, wide legs. Weight reaches 19 kg.

Honey badger - the animal belongs to the monotypic subfamily.

This is a large animal, whose body length reaches 77 cm. The body is flattened, massive, and the legs are thick and short.

The Kunih family is further subdivided into the subfamily of badgers.

Representatives:

Common badger. Distributed in the territory of the former USSR. The body length reaches 90 cm, and the tail - 24 cm.
American badger. The body reaches 74 cm in length, and body weight 10 kg.
Pig badger is common in South Asia. It lives on the plains and in the mountains. Body weight reaches 14 kg, and length - 70 cm.
A ferret badger bears the common name of three peculiar animals at once. They are united in the genus Helictis. They all have thick fur. They live in South Asia.

The Kunih family is further subdivided into a subfamily of stinks.

Representatives:

The striped skunk inhabits from southern Canada to northern Mexico. The length of the body is not more than 38 cm, and the tail is 44 cm. Weight does not exceed 2.5 kg.
Spotted skunk is common in Central America and the USA. The mass of the animal is not more than 1 kg.
Patagonian skunk lives within South America. It reaches 49 cm in length.
White-skunk. Almost the whole body is covered with black hair, and the tail, back and end of the muzzle are white on top.