American mink

American mink; Temporal range:
	Near Capisic Pond, Portland, Maine
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Mustelidae
Genus:	Neogale
Species:	N. vison
Binomial name
	Neogale vison; (Schreber, 1777)
Subspecies
	15, see text N. v. vison; N. v. aestuarina; N. v. aniakensis; N. v. energumenos; N. v. evagor; N. v. evergladensis; N. v. ingens; N. v. lacustris; N. v. letifera; N. v. lowii; N. v. lutensis; N. v. melampeplus; N. v. mink; N. v. nesolestes; N. v. vulgivaga;
	American mink range in North America
	Native (red) and introduced (pink) range of American mink
Synonyms
	Mustela vison; Vison vison; Neovison vison;

The American mink (Neogale vison) is a semiaquatic species of mustelid native to North America, though human introduction has expanded its range to many parts of Europe, Asia, and South America. Because of range expansion, the American mink is classed as a least-concern species by the IUCN.^[1] 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.^[3] The American mink is a carnivore that feeds on rodents, fish, crustaceans, frogs, and birds. In its introduced range in Europe it has been classified as an invasive species linked to declines in European mink, Pyrenean desman, and water vole populations. It is the animal most frequently farmed for its fur, exceeding the silver fox, sable, marten, and skunk in economic importance.^[4]

^ ^a ^b Reid, F.; Schiaffini, M. & Schipper, J. (2016). "Neovison vison". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T41661A45214988. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T41661A45214988.en.
^ Wozencraft, W. C. (2005). "Order Carnivora". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 619. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
^ Patterson, Bruce D.; Ramírez-Chaves, Héctor E.; Vilela, Júlio F.; Soares, André E. R.; Grewe, Felix (2021). "On the nomenclature of the American clade of weasels (Carnivora: Mustelidae)". Journal of Animal Diversity. 3 (2): 1–8. doi:10.52547/JAD.2021.3.2.1. ISSN 2676-685X. S2CID 236299740.
^ Heptner & Sludskii 2002, p. 745

[iucn-1] Reid, F.; Schiaffini, M. & Schipper, J. (2016). "Neovison vison". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T41661A45214988. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T41661A45214988.en.

[msw3-2] Wozencraft, W. C. (2005). "Order Carnivora". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 619. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.

[3] Patterson, Bruce D.; Ramírez-Chaves, Héctor E.; Vilela, Júlio F.; Soares, André E. R.; Grewe, Felix (2021). "On the nomenclature of the American clade of weasels (Carnivora: Mustelidae)". Journal of Animal Diversity. 3 (2): 1–8. doi:10.52547/JAD.2021.3.2.1. ISSN 2676-685X. S2CID 236299740.

[s745-4] Heptner & Sludskii 2002, p. 745

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

American mink Temporal range:

Near Capisic Pond, Portland, Maine
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)^[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Mustelidae
Genus:	Neogale
Species:	N. vison
Binomial name
*Neogale vison* (Schreber, 1777)^[2]
Subspecies
15, see text N. v. vison N. v. aestuarina N. v. aniakensis N. v. energumenos N. v. evagor N. v. evergladensis N. v. ingens N. v. lacustris N. v. letifera N. v. lowii N. v. lutensis N. v. melampeplus N. v. mink N. v. nesolestes N. v. vulgivaga

American mink range in North America

Native (red) and introduced (pink) range of American mink
Synonyms
Mustela vison Vison vison Neovison vison