JAPANESE WEASEL ON SAKHALIN ISLAND
Species of Japanese weasel were brought to the south of Sakhalin Island from Japan in 1932. The softlings adapted quickly and later settled comfortably along numerous water streams of the southern regions of the island. This type of species differs from the continent types of softlings by a number of morphological and genetic characteristics. Data on the habitation, nutrition and behavioral habits of the studied animals are provided. Due to unknown reasons, at the beginning of the 1970s, the numerical strength of Japanese weasels inhabiting the island started to decline, and traces of their habitation became rather rare. At present, no reliable data on the soflings’ numerical strength on Sakhalin Island are available.