Mustela putorius

**Semantic type:** Mammal

**Definition:** A small domestic mammal of the type Mustela putorious, with an elongated body and brown, black, white, or mixed fur. The ferret is carnivorous and crepuscular, spending 14-18 hours a day sleeping. This animal is prone to adrenal cancers, insulinoma, and lymphoma. In pre-clinical research, the ferret is used most commonly in toxicological screening and studies involving human influenza virus, as well as studies in reproductive physiology, anatomy, endocrinology and neuroscience.

**Synonyms:** - FERRET