|
The ferret.
The ferret
is a domestic mammal of the type Mustela putorius furo.
Ferrets are sexually dimorphic predators with males
being substantially larger than females. They typically
have brown, black, white, or mixed fur, have an average
length of approximately 20 inches (51 cm) including
a 5 inch (13 cm) tail, weigh about 1.54 pounds
(0.72 kg), and have a natural lifespan of 7 to
10 years.
The history of the ferret's domestication is uncertain,
like that of most other domestic animals. It is very
likely that ferrets have been domesticated for at least
2,500 years. They are still used for hunting rabbits
in some parts of the world today, but increasingly they
are being kept simply as pets...
|