È diffusa in tutta Europa, in Asia, America del Nord e Africa. In Italia, secondo alcune font, sarebbero presenti tre sottospecie simpatriche: la Mustela nivalis nivalis (Linnaeus), la Mustela nivalis boccamela (Bechstein), e la Mustela nivalis vulgaris (Erxleben). Tale suddivisione è incerta e si ritiene che in realtà tutte le popolazioni farebbero parte della sottospecie M. n. vulgaris. Altre fonti distinguono la sottospecie Mustela nivalis minuta, continentale, dalla Mustela nivalis boccamela, mediterranea, presente nell’Italia meridionale e centrale e nelle isole. Quest’ultima si differenzierebbe per la taglia maggiore e per il mantello più chiaro.
The weasel (Mustela nivalis Linnaeus) known in Sardinia as “bucca ‘e meli” is a mammal of the Mustelidae family about 30 cm long, of which 4 cm tail. It has a slender body covered with a soft fawn-colored skin on the back and a white gray on the belly. It has short legs, sharp nails and wide ears. Weasels belonging to mountain populations are reported, which during the winter change hair assuming a completely or partially white color like the Ermine.
It is widespread throughout Europe, Asia, North America and Africa. In Italy, according to some fonts, there are three sympatric subspecies: Mustela nivalis nivalis (Linnaeus), Mustela nivalis boccamela (Bechstein), and Mustela nivalis vulgaris (Erxleben). This subdivision is uncertain and it is believed that in reality all populations would be part of the subspecies M. n. vulgaris. Other sources distinguish the subspecies Mustela nivalis minuta, continental, from Mustela nivalis boccamela, Mediterranean, present in southern and central Italy and in the islands. The latter would be differentiated by the larger size and the lighter coat.
