Mink

Another member of the mink lineage, is the sea mink or Mustela macrodon. This mink is larger with coarser and more reddish fur. There is no complete specimen of this mink, since it was sought mainly for its fur and was thought to have been exterminated as a species around the 1880's. From what is known this mink was approximately twice the size of the American mink, with large teeth, and a peculiar odor. He lived among the rocks along the ocean and ate fish and mollusks. Since the disappearance of this mink, his range appears to be taken over by the Mustela vison or American Mink.

The North American mink, Mustela vison inhabits streams, lakes, swamps, marshes, and densely vegetated areas. It lives under stones, roots of trees, or in self-excavated burrows, which will usually have one or more entrances above water level. The thick fur (pelage) of this animal makes him a very valuable furbearer. Running from rich brown to almost black, with a pale lower body, he may have white splashes on his lower lip, chest, and lower abdomen. This tiny mammal produces a variety of cries from a soft cooing to screams and hisses when fighting.

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