Wildlifeof Thailand
Yellow-bellied Weasel
Mustelidae
Photo: (c) Mark, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY (May be cropped or resized)
Mustela kathiah
Basic stats
Diet
Mainly rodents, with birds and other small mammals
Habitat
Montane pine forest, sometimes above the timber line
Size
Head and body 25–27cm; tail 12.5–15cm
The yellow-bellied weasel is a slim montane mustelid with dark-brown upperparts and tail, contrasting yellow underparts and a paler yellow-white upper lip, chin and throat. The hind soles are bare and the foot pads exposed. Head-and-body length is 25–27 cm and the tail measures 12.5–15 cm (Animal Diversity Web).
Its broad Asian range extends from northern Pakistan through southern China and Southeast Asia. It is associated especially with pine forest at about 1,800–4,000 m and may occur above the timber line. Rodents such as mice, rats and voles form the main diet, supplemented by birds and other small mammals (Animal Diversity Web). It is Nationally Data Deficient (Thailand Red Data 2025).
Quick answers
- What does the Yellow-bellied Weasel eat?
- Mainly rodents, with birds and other small mammals
- What habitat does the Yellow-bellied Weasel live in?
- Montane pine forest, sometimes above the timber line
- How big is the Yellow-bellied Weasel?
- Head and body 25–27cm; tail 12.5–15cm