One of the 2 minks on WAnimals
Mammals · Carnivora · Mustelidae
European Mink
Mustela lutreola
It faces an extremely high risk of imminent extinction in the wild. See full glossary
The European mink is one of the most threatened carnivores on the continent. It is a semi-aquatic mustelid tied to well-preserved riverbanks, where it hunts fish, amphibians, crayfish and rodents. It is told apart from the American mink by having a white patch on both the upper and the lower lip. Its range has shrunk to less than 20% of the original, with pockets in northern Spain, south-western France, the Danube Delta and Russia. In Spain it is in critical decline.
Weight
400 g – 900 g
Size
30 cm – 43 cm
Lifespan
6 years
Diet
Carnivore
Feeds mainly on other animals.
Activity
Nocturnal
Active mainly at night.
Social structure
Solitary
Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.
Sighting difficulty
Very hard
Fun facts
- GeneralCritically endangered; in Spain it holds on mainly along the middle Ebro, displaced by the American mink.
- It is told apart from the American mink by the white patch on its upper lip: the American mink has one only on the lower lip, and that detail is the key to identification in the field.
- Its decline has a direct culprit: the American mink escaped from fur farms, which is larger, more aggressive and passes on diseases to it, and which displaces it from riverbanks wherever the two meet.
Life cycle & biology
- Skeleton type
- Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
- Habitat & environment
- Banks of rivers and streams with dense vegetation
- Sexual maturity
- 10.6 months
- Gestation / incubation
- 54 days
- Litter / clutch size
- 4
Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustela_lutreola
Where to find it
See its range on the interactive mapWhere to watch it
Parks and dive sites where this species has been documented.
Related species
Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with European Mink — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.
Pine Marten
Martes martes
Polecat
Mustela putorius
Beech Marten
Martes foina
Near ThreatenedEuropean Otter
Lutra lutra
Least Weasel
Mustela nivalis
Sturgeon
Acipenser sturio
How to help
The european mink is classified as critically endangered. Organizations such as UICN, WWF y Wildlife Conservation Society work specifically on its conservation and that of its habitat; looking into their programs is a good starting point if you want to get involved.
It's documented in 3 real protected areas — part of why protecting these places matters for its conservation.
Keep exploring
Based on what we already know about european mink.
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