"You can't live without being crazy!" How do weasels evolve the "soft power" that you can't imagine?

In this age when humans go crazy from time to time

Some animals are way ahead in their mental state

Because they have already accepted abnormality as daily life

The weasel that "pays New Year's greetings to the chicken"

The "Flat-Headed Brother" who fights when he is not convinced

Sea otters love to rub their faces

The marten, one of the three treasures of Northeast China

They are from the same family

Mustelidae

(Mustelidae)

(The yellow weasel is the common name for the yellow weasel, the flat-headed brother is the online name for the honey badger, and the mink fur in Northeast China originally came from the sable. The picture is from @刘璐&李艳霞&Visual China, and the map is @张琪月/Planet Research Institute)

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The diversity of mustelid members

It's hard to believe this is a

They are the most diverse family of carnivores.

The smallest one is as thin as a mouse

But can hunt rabbits

(The weasel preys on lizards and rabbits; the weasel is the smallest mustelid, with a body length of 13 to 26 cm and a weight of 30 to 70 grams. Image source: Visual China & Alamy)

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The largest is as big as a wolf

But can beat crocodiles

(Giant otters and crocodiles; the largest giant otter can reach 2 meters in length and weigh up to 32 kilograms, picture source @Visual China)

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Minimum and Maximum

The difference in severity is as much as 1,000 times

They are also the most adaptable carnivorous family

His footprints are all over the forests, grasslands, rivers and seas.

(The classification of Mustelidae is still controversial. It is currently divided into 8 subfamilies, more than 20 genera, and 50 to 70 species, distributed from hot deserts to extremely cold places; the subfamily of Pinnipeds in the traditional classification has now been classified as the subfamily of Pinnipeds based on molecular biological evidence. Image source @Visual China @Alamy&Wikimedia Commons, map by @张琪月/星球研究院)

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But no matter how big the difference

They all have something in common

Quirky

Even madness

Everyone who sees it sighs

“The brain circuit is not normal”

“There is no time to rest”

(A ferret went crazy; a white ferret was running around; the above is quoted from an interview with an animal protection worker, picture source @Visual China)

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Why is the Itachi family so unruly?

Because they are confident

The bones are full of agility

The brain is full of cleverness

dexterity

Most members of the Mustelidae family are small, long-bodied and short-legged.

This is especially true for species of the genus Mustela, which are representatives of the Mustelidae family.

Weasel, white weasel, yellow weasel, fragrant weasel, musk weasel...

They are weak in front of the house cat

They are like elongated rats.

The legs are extremely short

Such a contrast makes them look

"Strange" cute

(Stoat**, **Weasel; the stoat and weasel are very similar, and their fur color changes with the seasons, but the stoat's tail is longer and the tip of the tail is black. In ancient times, it was called "snow sweeper", picture source @Alamy)

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Although the body proportions are extremely uncoordinated

But members of the genus Mustela are unusually agile

Flexible like a spring

"Shehuiyao" is not as smooth as it

These "perpetual motion machines" never stop

Just jumped onto the tree a second ago

The next second, I went underground

Catch the prey off guard

The leaping branches startle the birds

Drilling holes and squeezing cracks to scare away animals

(Mustela altaica catches birds; most mustelids feed on small mammals, birds, insects and other animals, and also eat berries and tubers of plants. Photographer @雪松&邢睿)

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Weasel-like

But there is a tiger in my heart

Even birds of prey come and dare to drive them away

The bet is that you are not as agile and fast as me

The weasel is the smallest carnivore in the world

Small enough to fit in a human hand

But they mainly feed on rodents of similar size.

It can even hunt rabbits that are 10 times its own weight.

(A stoat in its molting period is catching a mouse, image source @Alamy)

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Weasel living on the grassland

Looks fancy but has great skills

Can catch marmots that are much bigger than itself

(Please watch in horizontal mode, "Ouch! What are you doing?" The body length of the weasel is 29 to 56 cm. It mainly feeds on rodents, pikas and birds. Image source: @Alamy)

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A larger marten species on average

The lethality cannot be underestimated

Compared to Mustela species

Their mouths and ears are more pointed

The elven sable leaps in the snow

Waiting for opportunities to attack squirrels, hares, and pheasants

Even small ungulates such as musk deer

(The sable's fur is not purple, but just a little purple in the sun; its hair is dense, with nearly 20,000 strands per square centimeter in winter. Photographer @关晓东)

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The yellow-throated marten is slightly larger than a domestic cat.

It is suitable for all sizes

The diet includes everything from rodents to ungulates

Even small beasts such as ocelots

(“Here I come!” The yellow-throated marten can hunt ungulates such as musk deer and sometimes collect wild fruits. Image source @Alamy)

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Members of the Mustelidae family are not only as fast as arrows on land,

Climb trees and drill holes

Also great in water

This is especially true for members of the otter subfamily that make rivers and seas their home.

They are one of the most amphibious mammals.

(The Asian small-clawed otter has small claws; the otter subfamily has 7 genera and 13 species, including sea otters. There are 3 species in China, namely the Eurasian otter, the Asian small-clawed otter and the smooth-coated otter. Image source: @Alamy)

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Webbed feet and a thick paddle-like tail

Enter the water like a dragon

Fishing and crabbing are no problem

The biggest "suspect" of the water monkey rumor

(Eurasian otters are fishing. They are the most widely distributed otters in China. Photographer: @雪松)

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What gives members of the Mustelidae family such abilities?

Their flexible bodies are the source of their agility.

As if there are no bones

Their bodies can twist and turn like fluids

Seamlessly switch between various states

Bend into a ring, 360° smooth turn

Pull it into a straight tube and drill into a narrow hole

(Stoats are the "real fluids". Mustelidae species such as the furo can stretch their bodies by 30% when digging holes without affecting their movement speed. The furo, also known as the "snow ferret", is a domesticated forest weasel. Map by @张琪月/星球研究院)

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This is all due to their special spinal structure.

Thinner spinous processes than most mammals

Reduces obstruction between the spine

Allows the entire body to be stretched or folded in half

Flexible like rubber

(Schematic diagram of the spinal structure of a weasel, drawn by @张琪月/Planetary Research Institute)

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In addition to the "trunk" specialization

The "accessories" of members of the Mustelidae family have also evolved to be more sophisticated

Ability to flexibly adapt to various environments

Underwater

Otters' eyes can change shape

The bulging lens becomes a "swimming goggles"

Focuses light onto the retina

No matter how fast, you can clearly lock on to the target

(Diagram of the otter's diving adaptation structure; to adapt to underwater activities, otters also have flippers, and can automatically close the valves of their nostrils and ear holes underwater to achieve a waterproof effect. Map by @张琪月/星球研究院)

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On land

The small ears and short legs of the weasel reduce the obstacles to drilling holes.

The speed at which they crawl through the cave

Almost like running on the ground

(Please watch in horizontal mode, the stoat "crawling in the dark" in the cave, picture source @Alamy)

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Such a fast action requires a powerful "engine"

A ferret 's heart rate can reach 500 beats per minute.

Equivalent to 5 to 8 times that of humans

Once the prey is targeted by the weasel

I have to run a cross-country marathon.

Even the most cheerful rabbit will be exhausted by being chased

Until you are captured

Don't be fooled by the small size of the weasel

But it has a deadly bite force

Because their skulls are just as delicate.

(A stoat sticks its head out. In winter, stoats turn white. Image source: Visual China)

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Mustelids have relatively long skulls

It allows the temporalis muscle, which is responsible for exerting force, to attach more fully

The jawbone responsible for biting is relatively short.

This way, the loss of power transmission is smaller

With the pointed and long canine teeth at the front

You can concentrate your strength and hit the vital points directly

If the weasel is enlarged to the size of a tiger

The weasel's bite will win

(Diagram comparing the skull structures of weasels and tigers, drawn by @张琪月/Planetary Research Institute)

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The Weasel family is not big

But can become the best among hunters

Not only is it agile and nimble

Still wins by using weird tricks frequently

Spirit

After all, it is limited by the body shape

The physical attack of the Mustelidae is not very strong

But they use unconventional methods

Like a monster, cunning and scheming

They are always alert

Sometimes jumping, sometimes stopping

Stand upright and look around

This is observing the surroundings

Waiting for an opportunity

(A stoat looking around, image source @Alamy)

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While other predators are strengthening their physical equipment

They are quietly making "biological weapons"

The scent glands in the anus can release foul odors

Those who heard it shed tears

Those who see it will see it

(A badger with its tail raised; most mustelids, such as badgers and honey badgers, have scent glands. Image source: @Shutterstock)

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Most weasels have this basic skill

Used to mark prey and territory

It can repel invaders without even losing a hair.

High-level players are good at cooperation

Giant otters live in the rivers and swamps of South America

The body length of nearly two meters is the longest in the Mustelidae family.

Facing the threat of crocodiles

Giant otter family works together

Attack the caiman's soft belly from underwater

He defeated the fierce natural enemy

Worthy of the title of "River Wolf"

(Giant otters are rare social animals in the Mustelidae family. They have strong family cohesion and relatives will help take care of their cubs together. Image source: Visual China)

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The sea otter is the most "heavyweight" weasel.

Weight up to 45 kg

But he is famous for being the "face-rubbing cute beast"

(“Wash and wash until it’s white”, picture source: Visual China)

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They have the densest hair of any mammal.

Requires frequent cleaning to maintain insulation

(Sea otters have 100,000 to 400,000 hairs per square centimeter of skin, while the density of human hair is less than 200 hairs per square centimeter; they always rub their faces and groom their hair to keep air in their hair and spread the oil secreted by the skin to maintain the waterproof and thermal insulation effect of the fur. Image source: @Alamy)

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To avoid being washed away by the waves

Sea otters holding hands with their friends

Or wrap your body with seaweed

Sleep peacefully again

(Sea otters lying on the sea holding hands, picture source: @Visual China)

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For baby sea otters

Mother's arms are the best safe haven

(A baby sea otter lies in its mother's arms, image source: Visual China)

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Mustelids not only cooperate with their own kind

They also understand cross-species cooperation

Badgers and coyotes are an old pair.

The former is better at underground warfare.

The latter is better at fast pursuit

So a hole was dug to drive out the prey.

Another hole waiting for the rabbit

Strong combination increases hunting success rate

(There have been many observations of American badgers [left] and coyotes [right] working together to hunt rodents. Image source: @Wikimedia Commons)

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The most clever of the mustelids have learned to use tools.

This skill is no longer exclusive to primates.

Sea otters prefer tough sea urchins and shellfish

However, they don't have enough strength to break out of their shells.

So they learned to use their strength

Lie on the sea with a stone

Performing "Broken Shells in the Chest"

(Sea otters use stones to smash shells; sea otters spend most of their lives on the sea surface, their hind feet are specialized into fins, and there is a "small pocket" formed by fur folds under their armpits that can be used to hold stones. Image source: @Visual China)

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Their tools were not limited to stone.

Instead, we use local materials

Bottles, cans, and boat hulls can all be used

("Let's clink glasses" - a sea otter holding a can, photographed in its natural state, just for reference, image source @Alamy)

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The honey badger not only has well-developed limbs

The brain is also well developed

They already use tools to compete with humans

(“I am the legendary flat-headed brother!”, image source @Alamy)

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At an animal rehabilitation center in Africa

Honey badger Stoffel once again climbs out of the fence

It was isolated because it repeatedly harassed other animals

It is so smart that it can already open the bolt skillfully.

High wall?

It moves stones on tiptoe

Clear away the stones?

It actually rolls mud balls on tiptoe in the rain

Branches, rakes, shovels, tires

Anything can be a jailbreak tool

(“It’s gone”; the plot comes from the documentary “Honey Badger Destruction Master”, the picture below is for illustration only, picture source @Alamy)

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Mustelidae members are not only physically active

The brain is also working non-stop

They are full of desire to explore everything

Always challenging new things

Advanced new skills

These weird guys

A lifetime of debauchery

Even if they are trapped in their flexible bodies

They can't trap their unruly "souls"

What's more

It can no longer be described as just a monster.

It's reached the level of madness.

Crazy

Yellow weasels have been a frequent guest in strange stories since ancient times.

People in the underworld call him "yellow weasel", "yellow skin" and "Huang Daxian"

(The yellow weasel is known as the "yellow weasel" or "yellow skin" because of its ability to catch mice and yellow fur. It is regarded as the "yellow fairy" among the five great immortals in the folks, also known as "Huang Daxian". Photographer @张波)

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They often crawl on the ground at night.

Sneaking into the farmhouse

Kill rats and steal chickens

Leaving "corpses everywhere"

(The yellow weasel is an expert at catching mice, but it also preys on birds such as poultry; the picture below is for illustration only, photographer @马超)

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This kind of killing behavior

It is called "overfishing"

Killing far more prey than you can eat at one time

(Cheetahs hunting Thomson's gazelles; cheetahs, wolves, red foxes and many other predators have surplus killing behavior, which may be due to the instinct of predators or to prepare for future needs. There is no definitive answer yet. Image source: Visual China)

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Eurasian otters are also repeat offenders

These "fishermen" among the weasels enjoy fishing

And show off the spoils on the shore

This was considered by the ancients as a sacrifice to heaven and earth.

This is where the rumor of "Otter Festival" came from

(As early as the Tang Dynasty, the ancients had domesticated otters to catch fish. Image source: @Visual China)

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The "killing mad" Itachi dares to "kill monsters above their level"

When the petite stoat met the hare

Like a dwarf meeting a giant

It does not seem to pose a threat to the latter.

But suddenly the ferret seemed possessed.

Start crazy "disco"

The black tail tip is flying in the air

Attract more attention from rabbits

(Hares are one of the main prey of stoats; the picture below is for illustration only, image source @Alamy)

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In front of such wild dance

The rabbit was completely confused.

While the weasel was casting the "weasel" spell

Quietly approaching

Take the rabbit with one last bite

(Please watch in horizontal mode. The fur color of the stoat varies in different seasons. The back is white in winter and brown in summer. The picture below is for illustration only. Image source: @Alamy)

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A small weasel has such lethality

Once a medium or large ferret goes crazy

It scares the beasts

The badger is an excellent tunnel engineer

Their claws are long and sharp

Perfect for digging holes

(The badger's claws can be used to dig holes for living, as well as earthworms, plant roots and other food. Image source: @Alamy)

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When they are in a good mood, they will let red foxes and raccoon dogs stay with them.

But when he goes crazy, he is merciless

Evict tenants from home

Even confiscated the house and killed

(Please watch in horizontal mode. European badgers and red foxes sometimes form a mutually beneficial relationship. The former provides clean caves for the latter, and the latter leaves leftovers for the former. Badgers sometimes kill red fox cubs or raccoon dogs that live in their homes. Image source: @Shutterstock)

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Wolverine 's prototype

Possessing the largest physique among terrestrial mustelids

Looks like a little bear in mink fur

Usually, the marten is an opportunist.

They will follow predators such as brown bears, wolves, and mountain lions.

Wait for leftovers or just grab a meal

Sometimes they do it themselves.

With a crazy force

Rats and squirrels that are so small that wolves disdain them

Moose and reindeer so big that mountain lions dare not touch them

In their eyes, it's all food

(The wolverine, also known as the wolverine, is 65 to 113 cm long, slightly smaller than a wolf, and has the habit of storing food. Researchers have found more than 20 red foxes and more than 100 ptarmigans in a wolverine cave. Image source: Visual China)

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The most famous internet celebrity is the "flat-headed brother" honey badger

Even more crazy to the point of not caring about one's life

It was rated by the Guinness Book of Records as

"The most fearless animal"

(Honey badgers will eat everything they can get, from insects to wolves, and will also rummage through human garbage. Image source: Visual China)

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Lions, leopards, hyenas, these grassland overlords

The size is several to dozens of times that of a honey badger.

The honey badger, which is at a disadvantage in size, seems to be able to survive only in the cracks

But honey badgers not only accidentally avoid them

Instead, he insisted on coming forward to provoke

"Don't mind life or death, just fight if you don't agree"

Even though separated by a fence

Honey badgers also dig tunnels to cause trouble for lions

Honey badgers are paranoid but not reckless

It is a combination of hardness and softness, and it comes with preparation.

(Please watch in horizontal mode. There are records that honey badgers once repelled the siege of 7 lions. Image source: @Shutterstock)

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It is a mustelid after all.

Honey badgers are more agile and clever than their larger counterparts.

They can always quickly get out from the opponent's crotch

Focus on its weaknesses

It is extremely difficult for the opponent to counterattack

The flat head of the "Flat-headed Brother" is smooth and flat

Short ears hidden on both sides of the flat head

Make it difficult for opponents to exploit weaknesses

Thick, loose skin makes it difficult for opponents to bite

Even if there are hundreds of bees besieging it, it is difficult to sting

Therefore, honey badgers can destroy beehives with impunity.

Enjoy honey buffet

(The skin on the honey badger's neck is 6 mm thick, which is difficult to penetrate even by porcupine quills. Image source: @Alamy)

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Crazy honey badgers are not only not afraid of bee stings

They also treat poisonous snakes as "spicy strips"

Treat your teeth to the poisonous black mamba snake

They are somewhat resistant to snake venom

But the "Flat-Headed Brother" is not invincible

Fearlessness sometimes costs one's life

(Honey badgers have also fallen into the mouths of lions or been poisoned by venomous snakes. Image source: Visual China)

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"You can't live without being crazy"

A nimble body and a smart mind

Light up the fire of fearless courage

The small bodies of members of the Mustelidae family can burst out with such crazy energy

Win a place in the cruel competition for survival

Compared to the famous cat and dog hunters

Their inherent "hardware" is not up to par

But it has evolved "soft power" to its peak

Still a little cute at this moment

The next moment, he turned into a mad monster

("Don't try to guess what I am, Itachi", picture source: @Visual China)

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You can never predict what they're going to do next.

Because they always break the rules

Unbelievable

This is the way of survival of the Itachi family.

The trick is to adapt to circumstances

Strange is a surprise victory

Madness is attacking for defense

Don't seek to win every battle

But please don't leave any regrets

(“What should I do today?” A happy badger jumps happily, photo source @Alamy)

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Nature gives life infinite possibilities

But never pursue perfection

It is these seemingly weak

But the figure is smart and fearless

Let's see

Life can be so vivid

("The Itachi family, never back down!", image source @Visual China, map @Zhang Qiyue/Planet Research Institute)

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This article was created by

Written by: Mirror

Image: Zhang Zhaohai

Design: Zhang Qiyue

Map: Zhang Songnan

Proofreading: Gu Yuehu & Li Bingtang & Gao Liqian

Cover source: Li Yanxia & Visual China & Alamy

Audit Expert

Xuesong Han, School of Life Sciences, Peking University

【References】

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[12] BBC documentary "Natural World: The Tenacious and Fearless Weasel Family" 2022

[13] BBC documentary “Natural World: Honey Badgers – The Masters of Destruction” 2014

[14] BBC documentary “Natural World: Super Otters” 2017