Mustela nudipes

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Bibliography

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	CARNIVORA	MUSTELIDAE

Scientific Name:

Mustela nudipes

Species Authority:

Desmarest, 1822

Common Name/s:

English

–

Malay Weasel, Malayan Weasel

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

Duckworth, J.W. & Kanchanasaka, B.

Reviewer/s:

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

Justification:
This species is listed as Least Concern, as it has widely been reported outside forest, and ascends to much higher altitudes than those at which the current punishing levels of forest conversion are taking place in the Greater Sundas, such that a population decline at sufficient rates even for Near Threatened cannot be inferred on habitat trends. No direct major threats to the species are known or suspected.

History:

1996

–

Lower Risk/least concern

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is found in southern Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia (Sumatra, Borneo) and Brunei (Duckworth et al. 2006). Confusion about the existence of this species on Java is due to an error in the original description, which is occasionally still repeated today, e.g. by Wilson and Reeder (2005), where the holotype was said to come from Java (Duckworth et al. 2006). An individual from southern Thailand was collected at Khao Chong, Trang Province (Lekagul and McNeely 1977), also recently recorded records (about 5) extend the known range farther north (Specimen in Thailand Institute of Science and Technical Research), up to 10 degrees North Latitude (Duckworth et al. 2006). This species was recorded from Kerinci Seblat National Park in Sumatra in 1994, at altitudes of 400 m and 800 m (Franklin and Wells, 2005). Attitudinally wide-ranging, with records up to 1,700 m (Payne et al. 1985, Duckworth et al. 2006), with many records up to 1,400 m (Duckworth et al. 2006). There are wide-spread records of this species on Borneo, across the island both historically and recently, as well as on Sumatra (Duckworth et al. 2006).
Countries:	Native: Brunei Darussalam; Indonesia (Kalimantan, Sumatera); Malaysia (Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak); Thailand
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	There are no studies on this species, however, it appears to be widespread but difficult to see, at low density, and/or patchily distributed. This species has not been camera trapped regularly, as there is currently only one known record of camera trapping within the range, and the aggregate camera-trapping at known sites suggests that as currently used camera-traps are not an efficient way to find the species (Duckworth et al. 2006).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Population:

There are no studies on this species, however, it appears to be widespread but difficult to see, at low density, and/or patchily distributed. This species has not been camera trapped regularly, as there is currently only one known record of camera trapping within the range, and the aggregate camera-trapping at known sites suggests that as currently used camera-traps are not an efficient way to find the species (Duckworth et al. 2006).

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Little is known about the habitat and ecology of this species, though it is probably similar to other weasels in that it is ground-dwelling and so potentially exposed to generalised snaring and other forms of trapping. However, the distribution of recent records in deforested areas, even urban sites, indicate a high tolerance to human activities (Duckworth et al. 2006). Little is known about the habitat and ecology of this species, though it is probably similar to other weasels in that it is ground-dwelling and so potentially exposed to generalised snaring and other forms of trapping. However, the distribution of recent records in deforested areas, even urban sites, indicate a high tolerance to human activities (Duckworth et al. 2006).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

Little is known about the habitat and ecology of this species, though it is probably similar to other weasels in that it is ground-dwelling and so potentially exposed to generalised snaring and other forms of trapping. However, the distribution of recent records in deforested areas, even urban sites, indicate a high tolerance to human activities (Duckworth et al. 2006). Little is known about the habitat and ecology of this species, though it is probably similar to other weasels in that it is ground-dwelling and so potentially exposed to generalised snaring and other forms of trapping. However, the distribution of recent records in deforested areas, even urban sites, indicate a high tolerance to human activities (Duckworth et al. 2006).

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Currently no major threats to this species have been traced. It is eaten in parts of Sarawak and there is some evidence of medicinal use, but no evidence that these activities are major threats (Duckworth et al. 2006)..

Major Threat(s):

Currently no major threats to this species have been traced. It is eaten in parts of Sarawak and there is some evidence of medicinal use, but no evidence that these activities are major threats (Duckworth et al. 2006)..

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	This species is protected in Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah, but not in Sarawak nor in Indonesia (based ARCBC database). This species has been reported from many protected areas within its range (Duckworth et al. (2006).

Conservation Actions:

This species is protected in Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah, but not in Sarawak nor in Indonesia (based ARCBC database). This species has been reported from many protected areas within its range (Duckworth et al. (2006).

Bibliography [top]

	Duckworth, J. W., Lee, B. P. Y.-H., Meijaard, E. and Meiri, S. 2006. The Malay Weasel Mustela nudipes: distribution, natural history and a global conservation status review. Small Carnivore Conservation 34/35: 2-21. Franklin, N. and Wells, P. 2005. Observation of a Malay Weasel in Sumatra. Small Carnivore Conservation 32: 15. Lekagul, B. and Mcneely, J. A. 1988. Mammals of Thailand. White Lotus Press, Bangkok, Thailand.

Duckworth, J. W., Lee, B. P. Y.-H., Meijaard, E. and Meiri, S. 2006. The Malay Weasel Mustela nudipes: distribution, natural history and a global conservation status review. Small Carnivore Conservation 34/35: 2-21.

Franklin, N. and Wells, P. 2005. Observation of a Malay Weasel in Sumatra. Small Carnivore Conservation 32: 15.

Lekagul, B. and Mcneely, J. A. 1988. Mammals of Thailand. White Lotus Press, Bangkok, Thailand.

Citation:	Duckworth, J.W. & Kanchanasaka, B. 2008. Mustela nudipes. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 25 May 2012.
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