It is hard to guess what a Steppe polecat weights. But we have the answer:
An adult Steppe polecat (Mustela eversmannii) on average weights 1.69 kg (3.73 lbs).
The Steppe polecat is from the family Mustelidae (genus: Mustela). It is usually born with about 5 grams (0.01 lbs). When reaching adult age, they grow up to 43.5 cm (1′ 6″). On average, Steppe polecats can have babies 1 times per year with a litter size of 9.
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 steppe polecat (Mustela eversmanii), also known as the white or masked polecat, is a species of mustelid native to Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN because of its wide distribution, occurrence in a number of protected areas, and tolerance to some degree of habitat modification. It is generally of a very light yellowish colour, with dark limbs and a dark mask across the face. Compared to its relative, the European polecat, the steppe polecat is larger in size and has a more powerfully built skull.The steppe polecat is a nomadic animal which typically only settles in one area until its prey, mainly ground squirrels, are extirpated. It mates from March to May, and generally gives birth to litters of three to six kits, which attain their full growth at the age of two years. It hunts for larger prey than the European polecat, including pikas and marmots.
Animals of the same family as a Steppe polecat
We found other animals of the Mustelidae family:
- Marine otter bringing 11.2 kilos (24.69 lbs) to the scale
- Spotted-necked otter bringing 4.19 kilos (9.24 lbs) to the scale
- European badger bringing 11.89 kilos (26.21 lbs) to the scale
- American marten with a weight of 878 grams
- Hog badger bringing 8.17 kilos (18.01 lbs) to the scale
- Chinese ferret-badger with a weight of 939 grams
- Tayra bringing 4.14 kilos (9.13 lbs) to the scale
- European mink with a weight of 567 grams
- American hog-nosed skunk bringing 2.58 kilos (5.69 lbs) to the scale
- Back-striped weasel bringing 1.5 kilos (3.31 lbs) to the scale
Animals with the same weight as a Steppe polecat
As a comparison, here are some other animals that weight as much as the Mustela eversmannii:
- Mongoose lemur with a weight of 1.77 kilos (3.9 lbs)
- Bushy-tailed mongoose with a weight of 1.72 kilos (3.79 lbs)
- Platypus with a weight of 1.48 kilos (3.26 lbs)
- Eastern common cuscus with a weight of 1.75 kilos (3.86 lbs)
- Burmese ferret-badger with a weight of 1.85 kilos (4.08 lbs)
- Reclusive ringtail possum with a weight of 1.4 kilos (3.09 lbs)
- Northern Luzon giant cloud rat with a weight of 1.75 kilos (3.86 lbs)
- Gilbert’s potoroo with a weight of 1.57 kilos (3.46 lbs)
- Silky cuscus with a weight of 2 kilos (4.41 lbs)
- Banded hare-wallaby with a weight of 1.94 kilos (4.28 lbs)
Animals with the same size as a Steppe polecat
Not that size really matters, but it makes things comparable. So here are a couple of animals that are as big as Steppe polecat:
- Golden-backed uakari with a size of 40 cm (1′ 4″)
- Kodkod with a size of 38.8 cm (1′ 4″)
- White-nosed saki with a size of 44 cm (1′ 6″)
- Northern olingo with a size of 41.2 cm (1′ 5″)
- Aquatic genet with a size of 45.6 cm (1′ 6″)
- Western quoll with a size of 34.9 cm (1′ 2″)
- Indian grey mongoose with a size of 40 cm (1′ 4″)
- Dice’s cottontail with a size of 37.4 cm (1′ 3″)
- Black bearded saki with a size of 41.6 cm (1′ 5″)
- White-sided jackrabbit with a size of 48.8 cm (1′ 8″)
Animals with the same litter size as a Steppe polecat
Here is a list of animals that have the same number of babies per litter (9) as a Steppe polecat: