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The ferret (''Mustela putorius furo'') is the domesticated form of the European polecat, a mammal belonging to the same genus as the weasel, Mustela of the family Mustelidae.〔Harris & Yalden 2008, pp. 485–487〕 They typically have brown, black, white, or mixed fur. They have an average length of including a tail, weigh about , and have a natural lifespan of 7 to 10 years.〔(Bradley Hills Animal Hospital, Bethesda, Maryland, USA, on lifespan of Ferrets ). Bradleyhills.com. Retrieved 2012-02-28.〕 Ferrets are sexually dimorphic predators with males being substantially larger than females. Several other Mustelids also have the word ''ferret'' in their common names, including an endangered species, the black-footed ferret. The history of the ferret's domestication is uncertain, like that of most other domestic animals, but it is likely that ferrets have been domesticated for at least 2,500 years. They are still used for hunting rabbits in some parts of the world, but increasingly, they are kept only as pets. Being so closely related to polecats, ferrets easily hybridize with them, and this has occasionally resulted in feral colonies of polecat-ferret hybrids that have caused damage to native fauna, especially in New Zealand. As a result, some parts of the world have imposed restrictions on the keeping of ferrets. ==Etymology== The name "ferret" is derived from the Latin ''furittus'', meaning "little thief", a likely reference to the common ferret penchant for secreting away small items.〔(ferret ). Merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2012-02-28.〕 The Greek word ''ictis'' occurs in a play written by Aristophanes, ''The Acharnians'', in 425 BC. Whether this was a reference to ferrets, polecats, or the similar Egyptian mongoose is uncertain.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「ferret」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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