English: Devlopment of the distribution rage of the family mustelidae (Weasel, Badgers, Skunks, Otters)

• Annotations (indicated by letters in the map):
  

A) This was the land area of Europe during Eocene. Europe was then speareated from Asia. The mustelidae originated here.
B) Land bridges existed there at that time. The Isthmus of Panama (B*) developped in Pliocene.

Sources of Information:
This family [...] occurs in all land areas of the world except the West Indies, Madagascar, Sulawesi and the islands to the east, most of the Phillipones, New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand and most oceanic islands.[...]
The geological range of this family is early Oligocene to Recent in North America, Eocene to Recent in Europe, middle Oligocene to Recent in Asia; early Pliocene to Recent in Africa; and late Pliocene to Recent in South America [...].

Ronald Nowak, Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th edition, the John Hokins University Press Baltimore and London 1999, Vol. I, p 705

Additionally (maps):

• About mustelidae
  • http://bss.sfsu.edu/holzman/courses/Fall00Projects/wolverinefigure3.jpg (context)
• About geographical changes
  • http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1999/of99-535/Fig3.gif (context)
  • http://www.lothar-beckmann.de/Globalklima/Welt50Millionen.jpg
  • http://www.lothar-beckmann.de/Globalklima/Oligozaen30Mio.jpg (context)

(All pages retrieved on 9th/10th July 2007)