Mustelidae
Pronounced mu-STEL-e-dee
Mustela is the Latin word for weasel. Members of this family, which include weasels, martens, and otters, are known for their anal scent glands, the most famous example being skunks. While skunks have highly developed scent glands which they use for defense, most members of this family use their scent glands for social signals (Whitaker 1980).
Another characteristic of this family is their ability to mate, but postpone becoming actually "pregnant" until the right conditions arise. This is called "delayed implantation" because an egg will be fertilized but will not become implanted in the uterine wall. An impregnated mustelid can "wait" up to a year for the right environmental conditions before the embryo will actually start developing. Mustielids are not conscious of this action, it is controlled biologically. This allows them to give birth when food is abundant or when the weather is right, thus giving their newborns a better chance of survival (Maser 1981).