Today, zoological disputes are ongoing around ferrets. Experts have no consensus on the classification of these animals. Some divide them by color, others by color, while others do not recognize this classification at all and divide ferrets into groups (species). To better get acquainted with this bright representative of the marten family, we will consider all classification options.
Ferret species
First we’ll find out what types of ferrets are, and by what criteria they are distinguished.
Steppe
This is the largest and most prolific species. It is found throughout Eurasia, right up to the Far East. The body reaches 55 cm in length. The tail is 15-18 cm. The steppe ferret weighs 2 kg. Light weight allows the animal to move gracefully and silently. There are up to 18 puppies in a litter.
The coat is colored non-uniformly. The color is usually dark, from brown to almost black. The underfur is lighter. The belly, feet and tip of the tail are darker than the rest. On the face are dark spots in the shape of a mask. The remaining hair is short and not particularly thick. It feeds on insects, rodents, snakes, frogs.
Forest
Distribution area - throughout Western and Eastern Europe, to the foothills of the Urals. It is considered the "progenitor" of domestic breeds. Body length - up to 40-46 cm. The tail is at least 16 cm in length. Weight - 1.5 kg. The female brings up to 6 cubs in the litter. Puppies have a mane that disappears as they grow.
In nature, there is a white and red ferret - the result of interspecific mating of forest and steppe ferrets.
The color of the coat is brown or black; the undercoat is lighter and casts yellow. On the face is a white “mask”. The belly and paws are darker than the main color. It feeds, like the steppe ferret, with mice, gophers, snakes and insects. In addition, forest ferrets hunt birds.
Read more about this type of ferret here.
American (Blackfoot)
The rarest species. Habitat - North America. Far fewer "Europeans". Body length - 39-42 cm. Weight - from 0.3 to 1 kg. It is rare in the wild. The species is on the verge of extinction, is listed in the Red Books of North American states, zoologists continue to try to restore the population by breeding animals in captivity, and releasing them into their natural habitat.
The fur is beautiful, light shades - from cream to yellow. The belly, legs and tip of the tail are darker than the main color, they are almost black. High density of fur and down. The “mask” on the face is black.
Domesticated Ferrets
Domesticated forest ferrets are called ferrets. These are large animals 55-60 cm long and weighing about 2 kg. The word "ferrets" is of Polish origin. Also in use are the following names:
- Furo - albino ferrets.
- Honoriki is a hybrid of mink and ferret.
- Thorsofrettes are a hybrid of wild and domestic ferrets. What he looks like - we do not know.
Furo Albino Ferrets
Hybrid mink and ferret
Among ferrets, thanks to breeding work, there are many colors. These animals give offspring from representatives of their group and from wild individuals.
Ferrets have an inborn lack of fear of humans, and sleep in their lives takes up to 20 hours a day.
Colors
There are a huge number of colors that experts are trying to classify and organize. There are two types of color classification - American (AFA) and Russian, adopted in 2012.
The American classification provides for the separation of ferrets according to the following criteria:
- color;
- color tint;
- location of white spots.
Determining what color the animal belongs to, pay attention to such features:
- Color. The color of the fur, down, nose and eyes.
- Marks. The presence and color of spots other than the main color.
- Mask. The color of the picture on the face of the animal.
The Russian classification divides ferrets on pigmentation of fur into the following groups:
- golden;
- mother of pearl;
- pastel;
- albinos.
In nature, one-color ferrets of different colors are found - white, red, brown, black. Among domesticated ferrets shades - a great many. When determining the breed, in addition to the color of the coat, the color of the nose and eyes is taken into account. Popular colors:
- White black-eyed (DREW / DEW).The animals of this color are similar to albinos - they have the same white coat. But the eyes are not red, but black. The nose of any color is often pink or black.
- Albino.He has white or light cream hair, his eyes are red, his nose is pink. The underfur is white. These beautiful animals are active and energetic, but love to sleep after dinner.
- Champagne The main color is beige or milk chocolate. The underfur is white, golden, and soft cream. The eyes are pink, beige, light brown. The nose is pink or light brown.
- Cinnamon. The base of the remaining hair is white, the edges are deep brown with a reddish or reddish tint. Cushion is cream or white. Any eyes, and the nose is beige or brown.
- Cinnamon Selfie. The remaining hair is deep brown with a red or orange tint. The difference between the color of the body and paws is allowed. The mask is almost invisible. The cushions are creamy. Any eyes, and the nose is brown.
- Chocolate.The chocolate ferret has brown hair. A slight difference in the shade of the body and paws is allowed. The mask is almost indistinguishable against the background of the main color. Underfill - cream and chocolate shades. Eyes can be any, usually they are black or ruby. The nose is brown or pink.
- The black.The remaining hair is uniformly black, dyed along the entire length in one color. The mask is almost invisible - it merges with the main color. Underfur - from light cream to gray-brown shades. Eyes are any, but the nose is black.
Albino
White-eyed or Dew (DEW)
Champagne (Сhampagne)
Cinnamon (Cinnamon)
Cinnamon Self (Сinnamon self)
Chocolate (Сhocolate)
Black
The prefixes "selfie" and "solid" indicate that there are slight differences from the standard color. So, the prefix "selfie" indicates that the underfur is slightly lighter than the main color and the mask is almost indistinguishable. Whereas the solid color is dark and the mask is not visible at all.
Motley colors are presented below:
- Sable.The awns are colored unevenly - the base is light, white or light yellow. The edges of the spines are dark - brown or black. The undercoat is light - white and cream shades. The eyes can be any, and the nose can be pink or black.
- Golden. The bases of the awns are white, the edges are brown or black. The downs are yellow or orange. The eyes and nose are dark.
- Light pastel. The awns at the base are white, the edges are beige or light beige. Cushion - white or light cream. Eyes are black or brown, nose is pink.
- Pastel. Differs from light pastel with darker outer hair. Their color varies from beige to light brown.
- Dark pastel. The bases of the awns are white. The edges of the outer hair - from milk chocolate to the color of dark chocolate. The underbody is white or light cream. The eyes are dark, and the nose is pink or brown.
- Pearl. The bases of the awns are white, the edges are dark, grayish or black. The underfur is white or light gray. The eyes are dark, the nose of any color.
- Dark mother of pearl. They differ in the darker edges of the outer hair - they are black. The nose is dark, and any eyes.
Sable (Sable)
Golden
Light pastel (Champagne)
Pastel
Dark Pastel (Chocolate)
Mother of Pearl (Steel)
Dark Mother of Pearl (Titan)
Colors
Among domestic ferrets, ferrets with a clear pattern are especially popular. All the variety of colors are combined into four main groups:
Standard.The remaining hair and downs are pigmented. White color is not more than 10%. The color of the coat is any. Coloring can have different saturation - this feature distinguishes ferrets of standard color from monochromatic.
RoanWith this color, feroches have half white hair. In hairs, white is evenly distributed along the entire length, or is present only at the base. Along with white, gray hair can be present, alternating with pigmented ones. There is a mask on the face.
Siamese.Like Siamese cats, in the same ferrets, the tail and paws are darker than the body, and on the muzzle - a V-shaped “mask”. The nose is light, there may be specks on it. The mask is also T-shaped. The color of the Siamese varies from light brown to dark brown. There are other shades - for example, champagne.
Solid.White coat is missing. The backbone of hair and downs are dyed the same. Any colour. The intensity of the color is the same throughout the body, while in all other colors the legs, abdomen and tail are richer. Masks of animals of this color do not. The eyes match the color of the hair.
White spot arrangement
One of the classification criteria for domestic ferrets is the position of the white spots on the body.
There are three options:
- Flash.A flash is a color in which white spots are located on the head. The color of the hair of the eyes and nose does not matter.
- Panda.Pets of this type look luxurious. They have a white head, shoulders and chest. The tips of the paws are also white. The paws themselves are dark, the tail is also dark. Dark circles may be around the eyes. The nose is pink, eyes are dark brown, rarely ruby. A disadvantage of this type is the frequent deafness. Now breeders are working to eradicate this genetic deficiency.
- Mittens / socks.Ferrets with white spots located on the legs are classified as mittens / socks. Color coat, eyes and nose - any.
Ferrets do not see well, but this flaw compensates for their keen hearing and excellent sense of smell.
Types of wool
The color of the coat, nose and eyes is not the only difference between domestic ferrets. These animals can have different types of hair. Working to obtain different colors and colors, breeders bred ferrets with long hair - it remains fluffy without much care.
Wool Options:
Angora.The remaining hair reaches a length of 7-12 cm. Males have longer hair than females, so they look more fluffy. Ferrets with Angora hair have a distinctive feature - their nostrils have an unusual twisted shape.
Half Angora.In ferrets with a half-angora, the hair reaches a length of 5 cm, on the abdomen - 3.5 cm. The phenotype of the half-angora is evaluated according to the results of spring shedding, since 3.5 cm corresponds to the length of the wool of normal-coat ferrets in winter.
Normal coat.The length of hair in the winter is 3.5 cm, in the other 3 cm. Normally-haired animals have a dense and dense underfur.
Angora ferret
Semi-angora
Normally Coated Ferret
Marks
Any group of colors is distinguished by various marks that give the animals an elegant look. Depending on the color of the coat, its shades and intensity, the presence of marks and spots, the following colors are distinguished:
- Badger. On the head there is an uneven, intermittent strip.
- Point Paws are very different in color from the main color. A V-mask may be present.
- Mitt. There are white “socks” on the paws. Breast with a shirt-front. There is a white tip of the tail. There are also white marks on the belly and elbows. Marks may be asymmetrical.
- Milk Mauf. There is a contrasting spot around the mouth and nose. Often captures the eye and neck. The color of the nose is always pink.
- Silver. It is found only in mother-of-pearl ferrets. Osti contain in equal parts gray (less often black) and white hair, evenly alternating throughout the body.
- Marked. The awn is painted no more than 40%.
- Blaze There is a white strip on the head, and white spots on the abdomen and on the tips of the paws.
- Pinto panda. The head and neck are milky white, and small spots may also be present on it. White "slippers" on the paws.
- Roan. 80% of the wool is pigmented (along the entire length or only at the tips), the rest is white.
- Harlequin. Spots are scattered across the body - uneven and asymmetric (thus, the color does not fit any type of markings described above).
Badger
Point
Mitt
Milk mouth
Silver (Silver mitt)
Marked
Blaze
Pinto panda
Roan
Harlequine
Color is the main criterion for making a detailed classification of ferrets. Despite the great variety of colors, colors and types of distribution of spots, all domesticated ferrets are distinguished by a good disposition and attractive appearance. These are great home companions for children and adults.
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Russia. City Novosibirsk
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