Author:
Jan Scholten
Book:
Qjurious
Type:
Info
Chapter:
4-6__.__.00
Mustelidae
Clades: Carnivora; Laurasiatheria; Mammalia; Animals.
Genera: 24; 55 species; Aonyx, Enhydra, Hydrictis, Lontra, Lutra, Lutrogale, Pteronura, Mustela, Neovison, Galictis, Ictonyx, Poecilogale, Vormela, Melogale, Arctonyx, Meles, Eira, Gulo, Martes, Taxidea, Mellivora.
Taxonomy
Aonyx, Enhydra, Hydrictis, Lontra, Lutra, Lutrogale and Pteronura form a single clade. This clade is the sister to one consisting of the mink and true weasels, Mustela and Neovison.
Another clade that includes the weasel-like species with aposematically colored pelage (Galictis, Ictonyx, Poecilogale and Vormela) is the sister to these first two clades.
A further clade of ferrets and badgers (Melogale) is the sister to these three combined clades.
The fifth major clade has two subclades: the first contains the hog-nosed and Eurasian badgers (Arctonyx and Meles) and a second contains the tayra, wolverine and martens (Eira, Gulo and Martes).
The most divergent group is a clade consisting of the American badger (Taxidea) and the honey badger (Mellivora).