{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "ferret",
  "name": "Ferret",
  "scientificName": "Mustela putorius furo",
  "category": "Mammal",
  "summary": "The ferret is a small domesticated carnivore descended from the European polecat, kept for centuries as a working and companion animal. Slender and long-bodied, it typically weighs 0.7 to 2 kg and measures around half a metre including the tail, with males (hobs) noticeably larger than females (jills). Ferrets are famously playful and inquisitive, sleep much of the day, and live for about 6 to 10 years with good veterinary care.",
  "conservationStatus": "Domesticated",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Mammalia",
    "order": "Carnivora",
    "family": "Mustelidae",
    "genus": "Mustela"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 1.5,
    "lengthM": 0.5,
    "topSpeedKmh": 25,
    "lifespanYears": 8
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Mustela putorius furo"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Carnivore — meat-based diet; whole prey or high-protein kibble"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Domestic worldwide; descended from European polecats"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "6–10 years with good veterinary care"
    },
    {
      "label": "Weight",
      "value": "0.7–2 kg (1.5–4.4 lb); males (hobs) larger than jills"
    },
    {
      "label": "Top speed",
      "value": "Up to 25 km/h (16 mph) in short playful bursts"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Domesticated (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Domestic worldwide; descended from European polecat (Mustela putorius) of western Eurasia.",
    "continents": [
      "Africa",
      "Asia",
      "Europe",
      "North America",
      "Oceania",
      "South America"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "IUCN Red List — Mustela putorius furo.",
      "url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Mustela%20putorius%20furo&searchType=species"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Animal Diversity Web — Mustela putorius furo. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.",
      "url": "https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Mustela_putorius/"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/ferret/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/ferret/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}