The black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) belongs to the Mustelidae family, which includes weasels, badgers, wolverines, and otters.
Classification
Genus: Mustela—the only North American species in this genus, alongside weasels and ermine.
Family: Mustelidae, with over 60 species worldwide.
Order: Carnivora, the meat-eating mammals.
These slender, short-legged carnivores share a common ancestry with a diverse group of fascinating predators.