Debi writes
>the Black Footed Ferret belongs to the family of Mustela Nigripes.
>It is not in the same family of the Domestic Ferret,any of the Weasels,
>Mink, Fisher, Otter, Stote European Polecat, Steppe Polecat,
>Wolverine,Etc.
 
Indeed it is the same Family, see Anthony's excellent post above yours.
It is even the same Genus as weasels, mink, polecats and ferrets.  See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustela
 
In fact, some researchers think that the black-footed ferret (Mustela
nigripes), steppe polecat (Mustela eversmanni), european polecat (Mustela
putorius) and domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo or Mustela furo) are
so close genetically that they should all be considered the same species.
(A theory I disagree strongly with!)
 
Remember from high school biology: King Paul Came Out For Groceries
Saturday = Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species!
 
Linda Iroff
International Ferret Congress
http://www.ferretcongress.org
[Posted in FML issue 5175]