Fur European mink

european mink face - note white markings on upper lip, absent in american species.

the winter fur of european mink thick , dense, not long, , quite loosely fitting. underfur particularly dense compared of more land-based members of genus mustela. guard hairs quite coarse , lustrous, wide contour hairs flat in middle, typical in aquatic mammals. length of hairs on , belly differ little, further adaptation european mink s semiaquatic way of life. summer fur shorter, coarser , less dense winter fur, though differences less in purely terrestrial mustelids.

in dark coloured individuals, fur dark brown or blackish-brown, while light individuals reddish brown. fur colour evenly distributed on whole body, though in few cases, belly bit lighter upper parts. in particularly dark individuals, dark, broad dorsal belt present. limbs , tail darker trunk. face has no colour pattern, though upper , lower lips , chin pure white. white markings may occur on lower surface of neck , chest. occasionally, colour mutations such albinos , white spots throughout pelage occur. summer fur lighter, , dirty in tone, more reddish highlights.