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The European pine marten's fur is usually light to dark brown. It is short and coarse in the summer, growing longer and silkier during the winter. It has a cream- to yellow-coloured "bib" marking on its throat. Its body is up to 53 cm (21 in) long, with a bushy tail of about 25 cm (9.8 in).
The fur varies from yellowish to dark brown, depending on the species; it is valued by animal trappers for the fur trade. Martens are slender, agile animals, which are adapted to living in the taiga, and inhabit coniferous and northern deciduous forests across the Northern Hemisphere.
The stone martens that are the most valuable have a bluish cast to the fur with the underfur being lighter, [7] and were popular in the 50's with stone marten stoles, typically made of three to five pelts, being features in shows such as I Love Lucy. Martens are desirable due to their mid-length fur and the durability of the hair follicles.
Beech martens indigenous to the Aegean Islands represent a relic population with primitive Asiatic affinities. [ 4 ] The skull of the beech marten suggests a higher adaptation than the pine marten toward hypercarnivory , as indicated by its smaller head, shorter snout and its narrower post-orbital constriction and lesser emphasis on cheek teeth.
It is a long, slender-bodied weasel, with fur ranging from yellowish to brown to near black. It may be confused with the fisher ( Pekania pennanti ), but the marten is lighter in color and smaller. Identification of the marten is further eased by a characteristic bib that is a distinctly different color than the body.
Japanese martens have both positive and negative impacts on human activities in their habitats. As a positive, the martens prey on Japanese hares (Lepus brachyurus), which lower the quality of trees by their browsing. However, their prey also can include many insects which aid agriculture. [2]
Sable fur has been a highly valued item in the fur trade since the early Middle Ages, and is generally considered to have the most beautiful and richly tinted pelt among martens. Sable fur is unique because it retains its smoothness in every direction it is stroked. The fur of other animals feels rough stroked against the grain. [17]
Illustration of a skull in Blanford's Fauna of British India An individual in Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary. The yellow-throated marten has short bright brownish-yellow fur, a blackish brown pointed head, reddish cheeks, light brown chin and lower lips; the chest and lower part of the throat are orange-golden, and flanks and belly are bright yellowish.