Since Ferrets NorthWest has in its possession a steel-blue grey female
ranch mink, one of six that have been rescued on the assumption that they
were ferrets, a late posting by that Wonder Woman of Facts, Ilena Ayala,
caught my eye wherein she uncovered data about the successful X-breeding of
male mink to female ferrets.  The succesful X-breeding of these two animals
is a surprise to me, insofar as I was under the assumption that in order to
produce offspring in the F2 generation, that the F1 generation mating pair
must have the same number of chromosomes (to produce fertile offspring.)
 
If, in fact, identity of chromosomal numbers is not a prerequisite for
producing offspring, then one must wonder how much of a difference in
numbers of chromosomes must exist to absolutely preclude offspring?  Think
of the mare and the domestic ass and the mule, but yet no offspring from
the mare and the zebra stallion.
 
However, the querry to put before the readers is: What would be the
biological nomenclature (Genus, species, subspecies) of mink/ferret
hybrids and how would one arrive at a common name?
 
Assuming that an infertile mink/ferret hybrid female would display estrus
and assuming that she would be a contact ovulator, would she be doomed to a
slow death from anoxia induced aplastic anemia were she not mated to either
a male mink or a male ferret, vasectomized or viripotent?  Since being
infertile, would she ever develop estrus?  Just what does "infertile" mean
in this instance - maldeveloped reproductive organs ? inability to produce
ova?  inability to achieve uterine implantation?  Incomplete metamorphosis
at the metaphase stage of mitosis of the zygote?  What?
 
One might assume that the mink rancher, X-breeding mink hobs to ferret
jills, would likely not have too much concern about aplastic anemia in the
hybrid because she'd be anally/orally electrocuted after reaching peak fur
quality, probably long before she ever developed estrus.
 
Also one could assume that mink/ferret mustelids, with the densely packed
short-bristled fur of the mink and the longer hair shafts ot the ferret,
whatever that combination would look and feel like, why this X-breeding has
not been widely done so far?  Such a mustelid would have the strength and
musculature of the mink (far superior to the ferret), and being infertile
and possibly never displaying estrus, would never have to be spayed.  They
could not reproduce, so that the breeder would then have the absolute
corner on the market, him being the sole source of such animals.  Kinda
reminds one of the angora ferret.
 
Is there such a thing as a long-haired mink/ferret fur coat?  Never have
seen one.
 
Edward Frettchenvergnuegen Lipinski,  Der Frettchenlustbarkeitsfuehrer,
who wonders if govt subsidy of Viagra will increase AIDS infection rates?
[Posted in FML issue 2361]