The species is named for its yellow-colored underbelly; the upperside of the body and the tail are of a dark brown.

[2] Two subspecies are recognized: M. k. caporiaccoi (de Beaux, 1935) and M. k. kathiah (Hodgson, 1835).

[3] The yellow-bellied weasel occurs in Bhutan, Burma, China, India, Laos, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand and Vietnam.

[1] Yellow-bellied weasels eat birds, mice, rats, voles, and other small mammals.

[citation needed] Yellow-bellied weasels first build a den in the ground.