Can't read the article without downloading an app.

it is so rare it will soon require blanket protections to its unique environment.

They are slanting the marten into the same geological isolation found on the islands there.

Curious if anyone has provided tissue samples for ermine? We debunked the Alexander archipelago wolf by providing hair/tissue samples. Just took a few years

What a crock. First off, if the picture claiming she is "studying weasel skulls" is correct, she sure did find a "new" brand of weasel!
With a skull the size of her hand!
Second, she claims there are only 3 weasels in the world. Funny, I thought we had 3 different ones just in North America: Least, Short Tail, Long Tail?
She is what is affectionately know in the sciences as a "splitter".
At one time, her ilk had over 60 species of bears, just in North America!
Good grief. Anything for a grant.

Granted her hand is not holding a weasel skull
proof reading digital photos is a lost art.....Kansas
is that not where Spanish flu started from ?

Hopefully Gulo will have some input on this.

I believe Jack was instrumental in pretty much ending the Alexander Archipelago wolf debacle.


I'm not saying there aren't or can't be slight differences in skull configurations from different areas....but it seems this gal may go into a project with some preconceived conclusions

That is how they get funding for their projects-endless studies to "document" the new species.Doesnt even have to be a new species now,just a unique taxonomic anomaly.

Many of these so called scientists get their funding from groups like earthroots and other anti trapping groups who no doubt hold the funding out like a carrot to get the results they want to help achieve their real goal which is to shut down trapping and other resource development to protect the "new" species.

Strictly for clarity the article refers to "ermine". If I am not mistaken "ermine" are specifically "short tail" weasels and not least or long tail. "Ermine" in the fur trade refers to the white pelt of any species I believe.

All the points regarding splitters, new species etc are well taken!

Species - Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Species
A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. Other ways of defining species include their karyotype, DNA sequence, morphology, behaviour or ecological niche.

DNA sequencing has brought us the genetic species concept. In this model, species are defined by genetic isolation rather than reproductive isolation. Species may be more or less identical morphologically but differences in DNA determine if a population is a separate species or not.Sep 21, 2016

Call me old fashioned but if they can breed and produce fertile offspring then they are the same species regardless of "genetic species concept". What that researcher needs to do is live trap a few off that island and mix them with some mainland ermine and then see what happens with the offspring.

A collie and lab are both dogs. Same specie, different kennel.