Mustela eversmanii

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	CARNIVORA	MUSTELIDAE

Scientific Name:

Mustela eversmanii

Species Authority:

Lesson, 1827

Common Name/s:

English	–	Steppe Polecat, PUTOIS DES STEPPES, Steppe Weasel
Spanish	–	TURÓN DE LA ESTEPA

Synonym/s:

Mustela eversmannii Lesson, 1827 [orth. error]

Taxonomic Notes:

This taxon includes Mustela amurensis (Wozencraft 2005). M. eversmanni was widely considered conspecific with M. putorius under the latter name (Corbet 1978); much information published under the name M. putorius refers to M. eversmanni.

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s

Tikhonov, A., Cavallini, P., Maran, T., Krantz, A., Stubbe, M., Kryštufek B., Abramov A. & Wozencraft, C.

Evaluator/s:

Duckworth, J.W. (Small Carnivore Red List Authority) & Schipper, J. (Global Mammal Assessment Team)

Justification:
This species is listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, occurrence in a number of protected areas, and tolerance to some degree of habitat modification. Although its populations undergo considerable fluctuations, it is unlikely to be declining at nearly the rate required to qualify for listing in a threatened category.

History:

1996

–

Lower Risk/least concern (Baillie and Groombridge 1996)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	The steppe polecat occurs from central and eastern Europe in the west through southern Russia, northern Georgia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan to Mongolia and northern and western China. It occurs up to 800 m in Europe and to 2,600 m in central Asia. Wozencraft (2005) lists the following countries of occurrence for this species: Austria, Bulgaria, China, Czech Republic, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan; it is also known from Kashmir (Pocock, 1941). According to Mitchell-Jones et al. (1999), in Europe this species is represented by two major populations that are separated by the Carpathians. The western population of which (subspecies Mustela eversmanii hungarica) is found in the Czech Republic, eastern Austria, southern Slovakia, Ukraine south of the Carpathians, Hungary, northern Yugoslavia, and western Romania; the eastern population (nominate subspecies) being restricted to northern Bulgaria, southern Romania, Moldova, Ukraine east and north of the Carpathians, southeastern Poland, southern European Russia, and Kazakhstan (Mitchell-Jones et al. 1999).
Countries:	Native: Austria; Belarus; Bulgaria; China; Czech Republic; Georgia; Hungary; India; Kazakhstan; Kyrgyzstan; Moldova; Mongolia; Montenegro; Poland; Romania; Russian Federation; Serbia; Slovakia; Tajikistan; Turkmenistan; Ukraine; Uzbekistan
Range Map:	(click map to view full version)

Population [top]

Population:	In Europe, this species is still numerous, particularly in southern European Russia and Kazakhstan, though it is unevenly spaced and abundant across its range, with unstable population densities, being strongly dependent on food resources, and capable of spreading and colonizing new areas rapidly (Mitchell-Jones et al, 1999). It is more widespread to the east of Europe. There has been no evidence for any decline (except in Austria and the Czech Republic), but the species is scarce. However, ground squirrels are declining and this is an important prey species, so this could have an impact on the population in Europe. It is widespread and common in Central Asia and Siberia.
Population Trend:	Stable

Population:

In Europe, this species is still numerous, particularly in southern European Russia and Kazakhstan, though it is unevenly spaced and abundant across its range, with unstable population densities, being strongly dependent on food resources, and capable of spreading and colonizing new areas rapidly (Mitchell-Jones et al, 1999). It is more widespread to the east of Europe. There has been no evidence for any decline (except in Austria and the Czech Republic), but the species is scarce. However, ground squirrels are declining and this is an important prey species, so this could have an impact on the population in Europe. It is widespread and common in Central Asia and Siberia.

Population Trend:

Stable

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It inhabits a variety of relatively dry habitats including steppes, semi-deserts, pastures, and cultivated fields (Mitchell-Jones et al, 1999). Its diet consists mainly of rodents, including sousliks, marmots, hamsters, pikas, gerbils and voles. It avoids forests, and is primarily nocturnal.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	It is not intentionally hunted (more bycatch) but is heavily impacted by persecution in the western parts of its range. However, in Russia it is a commonly hunted species for fur. It is impacted by habitat loss in China. Mitchell-Jones et al. (1999) state that this species is hunted for its pelts.

Major Threat(s):

It is not intentionally hunted (more bycatch) but is heavily impacted by persecution in the western parts of its range. However, in Russia it is a commonly hunted species for fur. It is impacted by habitat loss in China. Mitchell-Jones et al. (1999) state that this species is hunted for its pelts.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	It is protected under Appendix II of the Bern Convention (Mitchell-Jones et al, 1999). It occurs in many protected areas. There is a need to address the hunting and persecution issues for this species. It is listed as Vulnerable in the Red Data Book of Ukraine. The subspecies, Mustela eversmanii amurensis, is on the Red Data Book in China and Russia (2001). In Russia its listing is due to reductions in population size, and in China it is listed as Near Threatened due to habitat loss

Conservation Actions:

It is protected under Appendix II of the Bern Convention (Mitchell-Jones et al, 1999). It occurs in many protected areas. There is a need to address the hunting and persecution issues for this species. It is listed as Vulnerable in the Red Data Book of Ukraine. The subspecies, Mustela eversmanii amurensis, is on the Red Data Book in China and Russia (2001). In Russia its listing is due to reductions in population size, and in China it is listed as Near Threatened due to habitat loss

Citation:	Tikhonov, A., Cavallini, P., Maran, T., Krantz, A., Stubbe, M., Kryštufek B., Abramov A. & Wozencraft, C. 2008. Mustela eversmanii. In: IUCN 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 09 February 2010.
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