Mustela erminea

Stoats, called ermines during their winter phase, are a weasel native the North America and Eurasia. It has been introduced to New Zealand.

The list of subspecies are


 * aestiva
 * alascensis
 * anguinae
 * arctica
 * bangsi
 * celenda
 * cigognanii
 * erminea
 * fallenda
 * ferghanae
 * gulosa
 * haidarum
 * hibernica
 * initis
 * invicta
 * kadiacensis
 * kaneii
 * karaginensis
 * lymani
 * martinoi
 * minima
 * mongolica
 * muricus
 * nippon
 * ognevi
 * olympica
 * polaris
 * richardsonii
 * ricinae
 * salva
 * seclusa
 * semplei
 * stabilis
 * stratori
 * teberdina
 * tobolica

Religion & Impact
M'icmaq: There is a story called Weasel and Mouse. In this story they are thieving children or teenage humans with the names of the animals, and they have the power to summon weasels and mice, respectively. There is a fairytale about two sisters who call themselves The Weasels. They accidentally get married to two Star-men after stargazing, and are then turned into anthropomorphic ermines stuck at the top of a tree, in beds. They then go through various trials and tribulations, running around the spirit world trying to go home. All the while they solicit men to marry them. Their brother goes on to search for them. possibly Bernardson's stoat Eurasia: The winter phase coat was extremely popular amongst royalty from the British Isles to Russia. The ermine was said to prefer death over soilment, and thus was considered sacred. It's white fur was a symbol of purity. ''erminea, hibernica, minima, ricinae, stabilis, and other subspecies from Eurasia. Also later, possibly American subspecies.''

Brittany: The ermine is the emblem of Brittany, a duchy or state which has officially existed since 942 and is usually owned by France. It's fur is represented in the coat of arms for the Duke of Brittany and in its flags. It is unclear why the ermine was used as its symbol. Perhaps they had an important fur trade of it, or perhaps it is the result of a forgotten story. Subspecies not listed in sources.

Modern mythology: The stoat is commonly called the weasel, and portrayed as such. It's history with the royal fashion may have influenced the modern subconcious to like black and white animals. For example, dalmations spots may resemble ermine capes.

Modern media: In His Dark Materials book series by Philip Pullman one of the main characters is the soul of the protagonist in animal form. His main form is that of an ermine. Likely stabilis.