Melinae

Melinae is a taxonomic name that has appeared in various classifications as a subfamily within the family Mustelidae, the group that includes weasels, ferrets, martens, minks, and otters. In many contemporary systems, Melinae is not recognized as a distinct subfamily, and its suggested membership varies between sources.

The composition of Melinae has been inconsistent. Different authors have proposed different genera or species as part of Melinae, leading to a lack of consensus about which organisms, if any, should be included. This variability reflects broader revisions in mustelid taxonomy as researchers reassess relationships using morphological data and, more recently, molecular evidence.

In modern mammal systematics, molecular phylogenies have clarified relationships within Mustelidae, supporting groups such as Mustelinae, Lutrinae, and Mephitinae, among others. Melinae, however, does not appear as a widely adopted or stable subfamily in these current frameworks. When it does appear, it is typically in older or nonstandard classifications and may refer to a provisional or historical grouping rather than a defined, universally accepted clade.

Usage of the term Melinae is largely of historical or bibliographic interest. For current taxonomic work, researchers rely on up-to-date classifications from taxonomic databases and scholarly reviews. If Melinae is encountered in literature, its meaning should be interpreted in the context of the author’s taxonomic framework and the time of publication.