biology

Tonkin weasel

Tonkin weasel is a biology topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Tonkin weasel rather than just read about it. In short: The Tonkin weasel or Vietnamese mountain weasel (Mustela tonkinensis) is a species of weasel from Vietnam. The species was described by Swedish biologist Berkil Björkegren in 1941, from a single specimen obtained in Vietnam in 1939.

Key takeaways

Tonkin weasel belongs to biology; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Tonkin weasel to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Tonkin weasel from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The Tonkin weasel or Vietnamese mountain weasel (Mustela tonkinensis) is a species of weasel from Vietnam. The species was described by Swedish biologist Berkil Björkegren in 1941, from a single specimen obtained in Vietnam in 1939. It was classified as a subspecies of common weasel until 2007, when it was re-classified as a separate species. It is not classified in the IUCN Red List and is listed as data deficient.

Taxonomy Tonkin weasel is a species in the weasel family of Mustelidae. The species was described by Swedish biologist Berkil Björkegren in 1941, from a specimen obtained in Vietnam in January 1939. While describing the species, Björkegren described the species as being closely related to the common weasel. It was classified as a subspecies of the same subsequently by various zoologists. It was distinguished as a separate species on the basis of skull differences in 2007.

Distribution and habitat Tonkin weasel is found only in Vietnam. It supposedly inhabits the low altitude ranges of the Hoang Lien mountains in Vietnam. As of 2015, it is not classified in the IUCN Red List and is listed as data deficient.

Morphology and behaviour Tonkins' weasel is a medium-sized weasel with a body length of up to 200–243 mm (7.9–9.6 in), and tail length of 90–92 mm (3.5–3.6 in). It has a longer tail compared to the common weasel. The body is covered with brown colored fur, with the under parts predominantly white in colour, and a clear demarcation line between the two. It has a large skull measruing about 36.2 mm (1.43 in) at the base. Tonkin's weasel is not thought to be a better climber, and mainly preys on insects and small rodents on the ground.

References

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Tonkin weasel

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Tonkin weasel claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In biology, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Tonkin weasel before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Tonkin weasel ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Tonkin weasel

In research: Tonkin weasel appears in biology research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Tonkin weasel in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Tonkin weasel is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics IUCN Red List data deficient species, Mammals described in 1941, Mammals of Asia, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Tonkin weasel outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Tonkin weasel in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Tonkin weasel means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Tonkin weasel out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Tonkin weasel in simple terms?

Why does Tonkin weasel matter?

Because it connects several biology ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Tonkin weasel?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Tonkin weasel.