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hello, you watching zoo zoom channel. aided by its sharp nails and long slender body. It is the world’s smallest carnivore. this species is the bravest of all animals, a hunter that is bold out of proportion to its size. Modern scientists agree with this view, as every single feature of these graceful, lightning-fast little animals appears to be designed so that they are the perfect predator. in this episode, we talk about Ermine Ermine is the common name given to this small northern weasel with a short, black-tipped tail, a long body, and short legs. Its fur is dark brown in summer but white in snowy, winter conditions. Commercially, this animal has been of importance for the fur trade, particularly its valuable winter coat of white. This highly prized fur has been used to adorn royal robes in Europe and in art was used as a symbol of virginity or purity. he has a circumpolar distribution. They are found in the north temperate regions of Eurasia and North America. In the New World, they range from east to west in a broad belt from the Arctic Ocean and adjacent islands of the Canadian Archipelago southward into the northern United States. the Ermine prefer riparian woodlands, marshes, shrubby fencerows, and open areas adjacent to forests or shrub borders. Although they are primarily terrestrial, they climb trees and swim well. Tree roots, hollow logs, stone walls, and rodent burrows are used as dens. Dens are usually around 300 mm below ground. Ermine line their nests with dry vegetation, and fur and feathers from prey. Side cavities of burrows are used as food caches and latrines. This species is largely crepuscular or nocturnal but is sometimes active during the day. they are good climbers and they use trees when escaping predators, resting, and searching for food. The ermine's lithe, agile body allows it to move swiftly both above ground and through underground burrows. Females hunt in tunnels more than males, which may explain the higher number of males that are trapped. he can also run easily across the snow. This ideal predator hunts in a zigzag pattern, progressing by a series of leaps of up to 50 cm each. they investigate every hole and crevice, often stopping to survey their surroundings by raising their heads and standing upright on their hind legs. They may travel up to 15 km in one night. Ermines are carnivores that hunt primarily at night. They are specialist predators on small, warm-blooded vertebrates, preferable mammals of rabbit size and smaller. When mammalian prey is scarce, ermines eat birds, eggs, frogs, fish, and insects. In severe climates, they frequently hunt under snow and survive entirely on small rodents and lemmings. Daily meals are essential to meet the ermine's exorbitant energy and heat production demands. Ermine cache leftover meals as a way of dealing with these demands This species mate in late spring to early summer. Females are polyestrous, but produce only 1 litter per year. Young are born in April or May after an average gestation period of 280 days. Young are blind and helpless. They are covered with fine white hair, and a prominent dark mane of dense fur develops around the neck by the third week. The young grow quickly and can hunt with their mother by their eighth week. Although females do not reach adult size until a least 6 weeks after birth, they can mate when they are 60 to 70 days old, often before they are weaned. Males do not breed or gain adult dimensions until their second summer. Ermine is an abundant species and it has a wide circumpolar distribution, but no overall population estimate is available. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today remain stable. Thanks for watching, why not hit the subscribe button and leave a comment below and let me know what you think.