The American mink (Neogale vison) is larger and more adaptable than the European mink (Mustela lutreola) but, due to variations in size, an individual mink usually cannot be determined as European or American with certainty without looking at the skeleton. The American mink was formerly thought to be the only extant member of the genus Neovison following the extinction of the sea mink (N. macrodon), but recent studies, followed by taxonomic authorities, have reclassified it and the sea mink within the genus Neogale, which also contains a few New World weasel species.

Understanding the Context

[3] Everything you should know about the Mink. The Mink is a small member of the weasel family, valued for its soft fur – it looks a lot like a ferret. Mink, either of two species of the weasel family native to the Northern Hemisphere. The European mink and the American mink are both valued for their luxurious fur.

Key Insights

In the wild, mink are small, discreet, and most often nocturnal, and they live in close proximity to water. All about the American Mink - characteristics, life expectancy, distribution, behavior, diet, predators, interesting facts, and much more. How to identify mink Mink have long thin builds and range in colour from light to dark brown with distinctive white patches on their chins and throats. Mink are largely solitary but vocal signals when in contact with other individuals consist of squeaks, chuckles and squeals. Discover 37 fascinating facts about mink, from their habitat and diet to their unique behaviors and conservation status.

Final Thoughts

Mink farmers have bred a captive race of the American mink, on account of its fur being denser than that of the European equivalent, and slowly they’ve become different animals.