Editing Ferret (section)

===Characteristics===
[[File:Mustela putorius furo profile.JPG|thumb|Ferret profile]]
Ferrets have a typical mustelid body-shape, being long and slender. Their average length is about {{cvt|50|cm}} including a {{cvt|13|cm}} tail. Their [[pelage]] has various colorations including brown, black, white or mixed. They weigh between {{cvt|0.7|and|2.0|kg}} and are [[sexually dimorphic]] as the males are substantially larger than females. The average [[gestation]] period is 42 days and females may have two or three [[Litter (zoology)|litters]] each year. The litter size is usually between three and seven kits which are weaned after three to six weeks and become independent at three months. They become sexually mature at approximately 6 months and the average life span is 7 to 10 years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://njvma.org/all-about-ferrets/ |publisher=New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association |title=All about ferrets |access-date=January 15, 2015 |archive-date=March 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330121138/https://njvma.org/all-about-ferrets/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.elmwoodparkzoo.org/animal-domestic-ferret.php |access-date=January 15, 2015 |title=Domestic ferret |publisher=Elmwood Park Zoo |archive-date=March 3, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150303072928/http://www.elmwoodparkzoo.org/animal-domestic-ferret.php |url-status=live }}</ref> Ferrets are [[induced ovulation (animals)|induced ovulators]]<ref>Carroll, R. S., et al. "[https://academic.oup.com/biolreprod/article-pdf/32/4/925/10543529/biolreprod0925.pdf Coital stimuli controlling luteinizing hormone secretion and ovulation in the female ferret] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211231220312/https://academic.oup.com/biolreprod/article-pdf/32/4/925/10543529/biolreprod0925.pdf |date=2021-12-31 }}." Biology of reproduction 32.4 (1985): 925-933.</ref> and can [[Copulation (zoology)|copulate]] for longer than one hour.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Fox |first1=James G. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kuSdEAAAQBAJ&dq=ferret+copulation&pg=PA197 |title=Biology and Diseases of the Ferret |last2=Marini |first2=Robert P. |date=2014-06-03 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-0-470-96045-5 |language=en}}</ref>