Marten

marten, name for carnivorous, largely arboreal mammals (genus Martes) of the weasel family, widely distributed in North America, Europe, and central Asia. Martens are larger, heavier-bodied animals than weasels, with thick fur and bushy tails. Members of most species are brown above and light-colored below. The American marten, Martes americana, also called American pine marten and American, or Hudson Bay, sable, is from 20 to 25 in. (51–64 cm) long, including the 7- to 8-in. (18- to 20-cm) tail, and has yellow-brown fur. It lives in coniferous forests from Alaska to the extreme N United States, extending south in western mountain ranges. It is mostly nocturnal and spends much of the time in trees, where it leaps from branch to branch, although it also forages on the ground; it makes its den in a hollow tree or log. Its diet consists chiefly of small animals, especially red squirrels (Tamiasciurus), but it also eats berries and nuts. The other North American species, M. pennanti, is called fisher; both are valued for their fur. Similar to the American marten are the European pine marten, M. martes, and the stone, or beech, marten, M. foina, of Europe and central Asia. The stone marten is grayish. The Siberian sable, M. zibellina, is a marten species that produces extremely valuable fur. The yellow-throated martens, M. flavigula of E Asia and M. gwatkinsi of S Asia, are patterned in shades of brown, yellow, and orange. Martens are classified in the phylum Chordata, subphylum Vertebrata, class Mammalia, order Carnivora, family Mustelidae.

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marten

Stone marten (Martes foina).

(credit: Reinhard/Reiser—Bavaria-Verlag)

Any of several forest-dwelling carnivore species (genus Martes, family Mustelidae). Species differ in size and colour, but they resemble weasels in general proportions, and their fur is valuable. Their total length is 20–40 in. (50–100 cm), and they may weigh 2–5 lb (1–2.5 kg) or more. Martens hunt alone, feeding on animals, fruit, and carrion. The fur of the American marten (M. americana) of northern North America is sometimes sold as sable. Other species include the pine, baum, or sweet marten (M. martes) of Europe and Central Asia and the yellow-throated marten, or honey dog (M. flavigula), named for its preference for sweet foods, of southern Asia. See also fisher; polecat.

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marten

1. any of several agile arboreal musteline mammals of the genus Martes, of Europe, Asia, and North America, having bushy tails and golden brown to blackish fur

2. the highly valued fur of these animals, esp that of M. americana

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marten [′märt·ən]

(vertebrate zoology)

Any of seven species of carnivores of the genusMartesin the family Mustelidae which resemble the weasel but are larger and of a semiarboreal habit.

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Marten 

any one predatory mammal of the genus Martes of the family Mustelidae. The body length is 40 to 80 cm. The trunk is elongated and flexible, and the tail is long (20–50 cm) and sometimes bushy. The fur, which is very soft and fluffy, is predominantly reddish brown and brown. There are six or eight species, distributed in Europe, Asia, and North America. Four species are found in the USSR. The European, or pine, marten (Martes martes) is found in the forest and forest-steppe zones of Europe, in the Caucasus, in the Urals, and in the southern part of Western Siberia. The stone marten (M. foina) inhabits the mountains and some plains of Europe and of Southwest, Middle, and Central Asia. The sable (M. zibellina) is found in the northern Cisural region, Siberia, and the Far East. The yellow-throated marten (M. flavigula) inhabits the Amur region and the Primor’e.

Martens live predominantly in forests. Only the stone marten is encountered in open areas, usually on mountains and often in populated places. Martens feed on small rodents, birds, nuts, berries, and fruits. They climb well and are nocturnal. Breeding occurs in July and August; the gestation period is 236 to 274 days. The hybrid of the sable and pine marten is called the kidas. Martens, particularly the sable, are commercially valuable for their fur.

REFERENCES

Ognev, S. I. Zveri SSSR i prilezhashchikh stran. (Zveri Vostochnoi Evropy i Severnoi Azii), vol. 2. Moscow-Leningrad, 1931.
Mlekopitaiushchie Sovetskogo Soiuza, vol. 2, part 1. Edited by V. G. Geptner and N. P. Naumov. Moscow, 1967.

I. I. SOKOLOV