American mink

Schwartz, J. et al., Immunophenotypic and functional effects of bunker C fuel oil on the immune system of American mink (Mustela vison), Vet. Immunol. Immunopathol., 101, 179, 2004. 

The American mink (Mustela vison) occurs throughout most of North America, except for parts of the arid southwest. This species lives in the vicinity of a wide range of aquatic habitats. Mink make their dens in hollows in fallen logs and under stumps, and in burrows taken over from a muskrat or beaver. 

The recently extinct sea mink (Mustela macrodon) was a relatively large species that occurred along marine shores in parts of northeastern North America. This species was initially rare, and it was quickly made extinct by overexploitation for its fur. Studies of its skeletal materials, which showed that the sea mink was a distinct species, were not actually conducted until after this aui-mal had become extinct. The sea mink was about twice the size of the American mink, with a relatively large skull, and other special characters. The species appears to have disappeared from New England in the 1860s or... 

An American mink (Muste/a Wson) in Fiathead Nationai Forest, in Montana. Photograph by Nancy Sanloid. Stock Market. Reproduced by permission. 

In 2002 results were published obtained from the examination of marine mammals, birds, fish, snakes and amphibians (liver, egg yolks, muscle and blood plasma) from all over the globe, including areas of the North and South Poles. PFOS was found in 77% of samples of marine mammals, in 60% of samples of birds, in 38% of fish samples and in 100% of samples of minks and otters. The concentration of PFOS in the liver of seals from the Baltic Sea was 240p,g/kg, in the liver of Canadian polar bears 3100p,g/kg and 1200 p-g/kg in the liver of North American minks. Samples fi"om industrial areas, however, contained several times higher amounts of PFOS compared with samples from the Polar Regions. Table 12.55 presents the concentrations of PFOS and PFOA in fish, crustaceans and molluscs. 

European polecat (Mustela putorlus)American mink, and the ermlne are the only mustellds whose anal sac secretions have been examined chemically. 

Mancini, E. a., Mink, R. M., Bearden, B. L. Wilk-ERSON, R. P. 1985. Norphlet Formation (Upper Jurassic) of southwestern and offshore Alabama environments of deposition and petroleum geology. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, 69, 881-898. 

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