Solongo in Kyrgyzstan

Solongoi — Mustela altaica Pall.

A small animal with a slender and sleek body, short limbs, and a long fluffy tail. The body length is 19–26 cm, and the tail is 8–14.5 cm. The snout is pointed, the ears are short and relatively wide, rounded, and the fur is short.

The coloration is a uniform brownish-gray, with a gray-brown spot on the head from the nose to the ears, somewhat darker on the head, and the sides and belly are noticeably reddish compared to the back.

It inhabits the slopes of mountains, often found in rocky debris above the tree line, occupies flat and mountainous steppes, thickets, and hilly sands, and often settles in populated areas. The habitats of the solongoi coincide with those of the stoat, and the population of the former is inversely dependent on the population of the latter.

It primarily feeds on mouse-like rodents (mice, narrow-skulled and other voles, water rats, sand rats), pika, while other animals (birds, lizards, frogs, fish, insects) play a secondary role.

Active both at night and during the day. It moves by jumping, swims well, and climbs bushes and trees.

It does not dig burrows, adapting the burrows of other animals and natural cavities under roots and among rocks for shelter.

The mating period is February-March, with a gestation of about 40 days; young (2-8) are born in April-May.

The young begin to lead an independent life as early as two months of age, although family litters do not break up. Shedding occurs twice a year: in spring (April-May) and in autumn (September-October).

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