Mustelidae
Hey, it’s my favorite mammalian family, the mustelids! I’m writing about these guys today because nobody quite got Friday’s Freak of the Week, even though most of you guys recognized it as being a mustelid or weasel of some kind, so great job anyway (you all are so smart). It is the skull of a greater grison, (Galictis vittata), the larger of the South American badgers. I love badgers. Who doesn’t love the honey badger video (warning: NSFW, language)!?
Also, wolverines (Gulo gulo). I’m having a hard time writing this post because I’m so biased. What is there not to love about mustelids?! They are resourceful, beautiful and ferocious, yet some species can be so family oriented that year-old cubs will meet up with their fathers for hunting trips and reunions. Douglas Chadwick, author of The Wolverine Way and contributor to the PBS Documentary Wolverine: Chasing the Phantom, mentioned this behavior during a talk I attended last Spring here on campus. If you have even the slightest bit of interest in wolverines or mustelid behavior, or even animals in Glacier National Park, I strongly recommend watching Chasing the Phantom (link to the full episode above!). It is probably probably my favorite film, ever.
Here are the mustelid skulls in order from largest to smallest (the two smallest ones are actually in the middle level on the left side; N. American otter, European otter, and European badger are on the bottom in the front):
- Sea otter (Enhydra lutris)
- Wolverine (Gulo gulo)
- North American Badger (Taxidea taxus)
- Honey badger (Mellivora capensis)
- North American river otter (Lutra canadensis)
- European otter (Lutra lutra)
- European badger (Meles meles)
- Greater grison ( Galictis vittata)
- Juvenile Javan ferret-badger (Melogale orientalis)
I hope you enjoy this post as much as I did photographing and researching it! I get downright giddy when talking about wolverines and badgers, and otters aren’t too shabby either. What is your favorite family of animals?
(Source: thebrainscoop)
