Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
common ferret
References
Britannica AI Icon

common ferret

mammal
Also known as: Mustela putorius furo, polecat-ferret
Written by
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of  EncyclopƦdia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them.
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last updated

Quick Summary

The common ferret (Mustela putorius furo) is a domesticated mammal belonging to the weasel family. It is a domesticated form of the European polecat, with which it interbreeds. Ferrets are popular pets and are used in veterinary research. They are known for being tame, playful, and inquisitive.

Ferrets have a long, tubular body and short limbs, making them adept at hunting in underground burrows. They were historically used in Europe and Asia for "ferreting," which involves driving out rabbits, rats, and other vermin. Common ferrets have yellowish-white fur and pinkish-red eyes, and they typically weigh around 1 kg (2 pounds). They are easily bred in captivity and can subsist on a diet of meat.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
2 Britannica Sources
  1. ferret-polecat
  2. ferret

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.