Mustelids are a family of carnivorous mammals which include the weasel, stoat, badger, otter, pole cat, mink, wolverine and domesticated ferret.  With their long, muscular bodies and short legs they are highly efficient and fearless killers as anyone who has seen a diminutive stoat tackle a full grown rabbit will testify.

We don't see the badger and the otter as big weasels, but that's what they are.  Culturally we are inordinately fond of both badger and otter, but not many people give a thought to the stoat and weasel.  And those that do tend not to like them.  Another example of our weirdly contradictory attitude towards wild animals.  In the past we used to spend a lot more time thinking about the weasel as they were an important animal in medieval iconography.  In the medieval bestiary the weasel signified someone who had heard the divine word and yet did nothing about it.  Many carvings of long, thin weasels adorn our churches, such as at St John's Cirencester.

http://laurieplant.com/2012/03/drawing-the-new-gargoyles-for-cirencester-parish-church/

And the difference between a stoat and a weasel?  The stoat is a little longer (20-30cm) than the weasel and has a longer tail (7-12cm) with black tip. I can't remember the hilarious joke....stoatally different?  Don't forget too that it was the winter coat of the stoat which provided ermine for the gowns of the peerage.  Let's hope they use faux stoat now though.

www.arlingtonpestcontrol.co.uk