Wildlifeof Thailand
Malay Weasel
Mustelidae
Photo: Dan L. · CC BY 4.0 (May be cropped or resized)
Mustela nudipes
Basic stats
Diet
Small rodents, with occasional birds, lizards and insects
Habitat
Tropical forest, rainforest, farmland and some suburban areas
Range
Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo
Litter size
Usually 4 young
Size
Head and body 30–36cm; tail 24–26cm
The Malay weasel has a long body, a 30–36 cm head-and-body length and a notably long 24–26 cm tail. Coat colour ranges from orange-brown to grey-white; the head is much paler than the body and the tail ends in yellow-white. The soles lack fur around the pads (Animal Diversity Web).
It is confined to the Sundaic region, occurring on the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo, including southern Thailand. Records come from forest, deforested land and places near cultivation or towns. Usually solitary, it searches logs, boulders, holes and burrows for rodents, occasionally taking birds, lizards and insects; litters of four are reported (Animal Diversity Web). It is Nationally Data Deficient (Thailand Red Data 2025).
Quick answers
- What does the Malay Weasel eat?
- Small rodents, with occasional birds, lizards and insects
- What habitat does the Malay Weasel live in?
- Tropical forest, rainforest, farmland and some suburban areas
- Where is the Malay Weasel found?
- Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo
- What is the litter size of the Malay Weasel?
- Usually 4 young
- How big is the Malay Weasel?
- Head and body 30–36cm; tail 24–26cm