Identification and palaeoenvironmental significance of late-Quaternary ermine (Mustela erminea) in the central Columbia Basin, Washington, northwestern USA

• Published in: Holocene (Sevenoaks) Vol. 14; no. 4; pp. 553 - 562
• Main Author: Lee Lyman, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Letchworth SAGE Publications 01-07-2004; Turpin; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Biogeography; Environmental studies; Fauna; Geology and climatology; Methodology and general studies; Prehistoric era; Prehistory and protohistory; United States of America; Washington; United States > US; North America; Columbia Basin; long-tailed weasel; palaeoenvironments; ermine; Biogeography; eastern Washington; Holocene; late Quatenary; Climate; Fauna; Quaternary; Dry; Localization; Variation; Age; Accounts
• ISSN: 0959-6836; 1477-0911
• DOI: 10.1191/0959683604hl731rp

Distinguishing late-quaternary remains of long-tailed weasel (Mustela frenata) from those of ermine (M. erininea) usually depends on size as the former species tends to be larger than the latter. Clinal variation and character displacement among these two taxa make comparative data taken from modern specimens of similar location to prehistoric holocene-age specimens mandatory for valid identifications. Taxonomically diagnostic criteria for modern long-tailed weasels and ermines in eastern Washington indcate that the smallest remains of Mustela represent ermines, mid-size remains cannot be identified to spcies, and the largest remains represent long-tailed weasel. Re-evaluation of small late-Quaternary Mvustela specimens originally identified as ermine suggests that all but two of them cannot be assigned to species. The original identification of one of the remaining specimens as ermine is confirmed. The latto middlHolocene age of the confirmed ermine specimen corresponds to a period of cooler and moister climates, and this accounts for its recovery from modern warm-dry areas in eastern Washington where ermine do not occur today.