Nature Field Guide
Long-tailed Weasel
- Spanish name
- Comadreja de cola larga
- Scientific name
- Neogale frenata
What Do Pico & Tati Think?
A long-tailed weasel has a narrow flexible body that helps it move through cover and investigate small spaces.
Species overview
About the Long-tailed Weasel
A long-tailed weasel has a narrow flexible body that helps it move through cover and investigate small spaces. It is a predator, with small rodents forming an important part of its food. The coat is brown above and pale below, and the tail has a dark tip. Tropical populations do not need the white winter coat associated with some northern weasels. This species uses edges and a range of partly open landscapes. Its scientific genus has changed from Mustela to Neogale, so older books may use a different name for the same animal.
Explorer activity: Use yarn to compare a weasel's long narrow outline with a rounder mammal. Explain how body shape might affect movement.
Your discovery notes: Record the date, place and habitat. Add a sketch or a photograph taken from a distance. Write what you observed and one question you would like to investigate. If the species is uncertain, keep that uncertainty in your notes.
Identification
Key Features of the Long-tailed Weasel
Very slender body with short legs and a small head.
Brown upper coat and pale underside.
Long tail with a black tip.
Habitat & range
Wooded edges, scrub and other suitable partly open landscapes.
Local observations
Recorded in Costa Rica. This is a country-level profile; it does not establish occurrence in every province, town or nature site.
When to observe
Can be active by day or night; avoid searching inside hiding places.
Conservation & care
Explore with an adult or local guide. Observe quietly from a distance, stay on established trails and leave shelter undisturbed. Do not feed, touch, capture or corner wildlife. Keep pets away.
Observation activity
Use yarn to compare a weasel's long narrow outline with a rounder mammal. Explain how body shape might affect movement.