It is hard to guess what a European polecat weights. But we have the answer:
An adult European polecat (Mustela putorius) on average weights 980 grams (2.16 lbs).
The European polecat is from the family Mustelidae (genus: Mustela). It is usually born with about 9 grams (0.02 lbs). They can live for up to 14 years. When reaching adult age, they grow up to 35.9 cm (1′ 3″). On average, European polecats can have babies 1 times per year with a litter size of 8.
As a reference: An average human weights in at 62 kg (137 lbs) and reaches an average size of 1.65m (5′ 5″). Humans spend 280 days (40 weeks) in the womb of their mother and reach around 75 years of age.
The European polecat (Mustela putorius) – also known as the common ferret, black or forest polecat, foumart (from Middle English ‘Fulmard’, meaning ‘Foul’, and ‘Mearth’ , meaning ‘Marten’), or fitch (as well as some other names) – is a species of mustelid native to western Eurasia and north Morocco. It is of a generally dark brown colour, with a pale underbelly and a dark mask across the face. Occasionally, colour mutations, including albinos and erythrists, occur. Compared to minks and other weasels – fellow members of the genus Mustela – the polecat has a shorter, more compact body; a more powerfully built skull and dentition; is less agile; and it is well known for having the characteristic ability to secrete a particularly foul-smelling liquid to mark its territory.It is much less territorial than other mustelids, with animals of the same sex frequently sharing home ranges. Like other mustelids, the European polecat is polygamous, with pregnancy occurring after mating, with no induced ovulation. It usually gives birth in early summer to litters consisting of five to 10 kits, which become independent at the age of two to three months. The European polecat feeds on small rodents, birds, amphibians and reptiles. It occasionally cripples its prey by piercing its brain with its teeth and stores it, still living, in its burrow for future consumption.The European polecat originated in Western Europe during the Middle Pleistocene, with its closest living relatives being the steppe polecat, the black-footed ferret and the European mink. With the two former species, it can produce fertile offspring, though hybrids between it and the latter species tend to be sterile, and are distinguished from their parent species by their larger size and more valuable pelts.The European polecat is the sole ancestor of the ferret, which was domesticated more than 2000 years ago for the purpose of hunting vermin. The species has otherwise been historically viewed negatively by humans. In the British Isles especially, the polecat was persecuted by gamekeepers, and became synonymous with promiscuity in early English literature. During modern times, the polecat is still scantly represented in popular culture when compared to other rare British mammals, and misunderstandings of its behaviour still persist in some rural areas. As of 2008, it is classed by the IUCN as Least Concern due to its wide range and large numbers.
Animals of the same family as a European polecat
We found other animals of the Mustelidae family:
- Sable bringing 1.17 kilos (2.58 lbs) to the scale
- Burmese ferret-badger bringing 1.85 kilos (4.08 lbs) to the scale
- Long-tailed weasel with a weight of 191 grams
- American marten with a weight of 878 grams
- Black-footed ferret with a weight of 907 grams
- Steppe polecat bringing 1.69 kilos (3.73 lbs) to the scale
- Beech marten bringing 1.67 kilos (3.68 lbs) to the scale
- Tayra bringing 4.14 kilos (9.13 lbs) to the scale
- Striped polecat with a weight of 812 grams
- American mink with a weight of 904 grams
Animals with the same weight as a European polecat
As a comparison, here are some other animals that weight as much as the Mustela putorius:
- Large flying fox with a weight of 1.03 kilos (2.27 lbs)
- Gray-bellied night monkey bringing 800 grams to the scale
- Rock cavy bringing 800 grams to the scale
- Aotus infulatus bringing 800 grams to the scale
- Bronze quoll bringing 896 grams to the scale
- D’Albertis’ ringtail possum bringing 796 grams to the scale
- American marten bringing 878 grams to the scale
- Cape gray mongoose bringing 791 grams to the scale
- Small-toothed sportive lemur bringing 955 grams to the scale
- Andean squirrel bringing 803 grams to the scale
Animals with the same size as a European polecat
Not that size really matters, but it makes things comparable. So here are a couple of animals that are as big as European polecat:
- Ring-tailed lemur with a size of 42.5 cm (1′ 5″)
- White-footed saki with a size of 39.4 cm (1′ 4″)
- Weyland ringtail possum with a size of 31 cm (1′ 1″)
- Northern viscacha with a size of 34.2 cm (1′ 2″)
- Pale fox with a size of 43 cm (1′ 5″)
- Eastern barred bandicoot with a size of 32.3 cm (1′ 1″)
- Black dwarf porcupine with a size of 35.2 cm (1′ 2″)
- Mountain beaver with a size of 30.7 cm (1′ 1″)
- Red and white giant flying squirrel with a size of 41 cm (1′ 5″)
- Subalpine woolly rat with a size of 41.7 cm (1′ 5″)
Animals with the same litter size as a European polecat
Here is a list of animals that have the same number of babies per litter (8) as a European polecat:
- Eurasian least shrew
- Dusky antechinus
- African wild dog
- Southern long-nosed armadillo
- Slender-tailed dunnart
- Grayish mouse opossum
- White-bellied woolly mouse opossum
- San Joaquin antelope squirrel
- Taiga vole
- Narrow-headed vole
Animals with the same life expectancy as a European polecat
Completely different animals, but becoming as old as a European polecat:
- European hedgehog with an average maximal age of 14 years
- Llama with an average maximal age of 14.17 years
- Raccoon dog with an average maximal age of 14 years
- Common bent-wing bat with an average maximal age of 14 years
- Silvery marmoset with an average maximal age of 16.75 years
- Ring-tailed cat with an average maximal age of 16.5 years
- Sable with an average maximal age of 15 years
- Pampas fox with an average maximal age of 13.67 years
- Arctocephalus forsteri with an average maximal age of 15 years
- Urial with an average maximal age of 13.75 years