---
title: "European Mink"
description: "Mustela lutreola — Mammals. The European mink (Mustela lutreola), also known as the Russian mink and Eurasian mink, is a semiaquatic species of mustelid native to Europe."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/european-mink
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# European Mink

> Mustela lutreola — Mammals. The European mink (Mustela lutreola), also known as the Russian mink and Eurasian mink, is a semiaquatic species of mustelid native to Europe.

- Scientific name: *Mustela lutreola*
- Category: `mammals` (Mammals)
- Habitats: `forest` (Forest), `freshwater` (Lakes & rivers)
- iNaturalist observations: 60
- Wikidata: [Q26559](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q26559)
- iNaturalist taxon: [41805](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/41805)

## Names

- en: European Mink
- de: Europäischer Nerz
- es: Visón europeo
- fr: Vison d'Europe
- nl: Europese nerts
- pt: Vison-europeu
- pl: Norka europejska

## Countries with the most observations

ES (7), RU (3)

## Summary

The European mink (Mustela lutreola), also known as the Russian mink and Eurasian mink, is a semiaquatic species of mustelid native to Europe.
It is similar in colour to the American mink, but is slightly smaller and has a less specialized skull. Despite having a similar name, build and behaviour, the European mink is not closely related to the American mink, being much closer to the European polecat and Siberian weasel (kolonok). The European mink occurs primarily by forest streams unlikely to freeze in winter. It primarily feeds on voles, frogs, fish, crustaceans and insects.
The European mink is listed by the IUCN…

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_mink

## Photo

![European Mink](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/european-mink/medium.jpg)

Photo: José Antonio León Mangado · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/289781561

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/european-mink?lang=en` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).