Description of the Amur steppe ferret
Often, fans of exotic pets have a question: what is an animal like a steppe ferret? If you look at the photographs of this uncomplicated animal, it will immediately melt any heart, which is why it is often bred in the household. Today, a huge number of species of this animal are distinguished, but the Amur steppe polecat requires special attention. In this article, we will consider the features of the Amur steppe ferret, the conditions in which it lives, and other equally important nuances.
Amur steppe polecat
Features of appearance
Visually, the Amur steppe polecat is practically no different from its relatives. Despite the fact that its body is slightly elongated, like the body of other subspecies, the rodent has its own characteristics.
The body weight of ferrets can reach 2 kg, while the minimum weight is about 0.5 kg. As for the body length of the Amur steppe polecat, on average it is 55-57 cm. These are the data of the largest representatives of this breed. Females of the Amur steppe polecat have much smaller parameters than males.
If we consider the tail, then its length can be different, but most often this subspecies has a tail length of 17-18 cm. In addition, such an animal has a fairly light color, in which reddish and yellow shades can be found. Dark patterns on the surface of the entire body of the Amur steppe polecat are created by brown hair.
A rather original color is present on the head of a small predator. A dark mask is located approximately in the eye area of this animal, which clearly stands out against the snow-white background. It is located on the surface of the entire muzzle, affecting the forehead and cheeks. The legs of the Amur polecat are black, the tip of the tail and a small part of the chest are also painted in this color.
What territories does the animal live in?
Considering the habitat of a rodent, you should pay attention to its specific place of residence. The Amur steppe polecat in its unique subspecies for the most part lives in China directly in the eastern-northern part of this country. If we consider a country like Russia, then the life of such an animal is carried out in this area. Very often it can be found directly on the Amur itself near the river of the same name. It is worth paying attention to the fact that its habitat most often falls on a small area, which is located in the territory between the village called Chernyaevo and the village of Inokentievka.
To date, there is no real opportunity to obtain truthful information about the quantitative composition of the representatives of this breed. This is due to the fact that the Red Book has recently been replenished with this rare animal, so it is safe to say that the steppe Amur polecat is currently on the verge of extinction.
If we consider the territory in which the Amur steppe ferrets prefer to live, this includes meadow zones where there is a large forbs and areas that are well overgrown with weeds. Also, an ideal option can be places densely planted with all kinds of shrubs and located along river valleys. The Amur steppe polecat almost never occurs in areas with very high humidity or in swampy areas. In addition to this, this animal is unrealistic to meet near a large settlement, since it is very much afraid of contact with humans. The most suitable place is a sandy area with hills on which pine and other conifers are located.
Lifestyle features
If we consider the features of the life of such an animal, it can be noted that it is not adapted to living in a fixed territory. The pet is inherently moving from one place to another. In the summer, he can live sedentary in a specific place, in the winter he constantly moves. The animal can stay in one place no longer than 3 weeks in a row, so it is always trying to find a new place.
In summer, the Amur steppe polecat prefers a sedentary lifestyle and lives in small groups. In March-April, the animal begins an active rut.
Due to the rather flexible and narrow body, ferrets have the opportunity to get into the smallest burrows, where potential prey awaits them. Sometimes the territory they conquer remains with them as potential housing. Even if you look at the fact that the animals have strong claws and paws, they rarely start building their own burrows. Sometimes they can seize and free someone else's hole, then adjust it to their parameters and live in it as long as food is nearby. As for the female, her living in the hole will be carried out until the moment she grows up her children. In the event that their home is in danger, ferrets use their own special anal secretion, which has a specific and repulsive odor.
How it feeds and reproduces
If we consider the nutrition of the Amur steppe polecat, then most often the smallest animals act as prey, among which you can find:
- hamsters and gophers;
- lizards and large insects;
- snakes and frogs;
- mice;
- small birds.
That steppe polecat that lives near water bodies, without fail, knows how to swim very well. Due to the so-called water voles, the diet of ferrets is quite varied. There are times when an animal hides its prey, and then cannot remember its location.
If we consider the breeding of ferrets, then the mating season for them falls directly in the winter. For 45 days, the female bears cubs, after which about 10-15 babies are born. Initially, their weight does not exceed 10 g, but due to the nutritious mother's milk, it is rapidly increasing. As soon as hair appears on the surface of the body, miniature predators become completely independent.