Knowra Marten Marten A marten is a carnivorous mammal in the genus Martes, part of the weasel family. Martens live mainly in forests across Europe, Asia, and North America.
Mustelidae : A family of carnivorous mammals that includes weasels, badgers, otters, and wolverines. Martens belong to this family, whose members share elongated bodies and specialized predatory adaptations.
American marten : A North American marten species, Martes americana, associated especially with mature forests. It is the familiar forest-dwelling marten of northern North America.
Marten diet : The foods eaten by martens, including small mammals, birds, insects, eggs, and fruit. Seasonal shifts in prey and fruit let martens exploit changing forest food supplies.
Fur trade : The commerce in animal pelts for clothing, decoration, and other products. Marten pelts, especially sable, have been traded for centuries.
Fisher : A large North American mustelid in the genus Pekania, closely related to martens. Fishers resemble martens but are larger and belong to a different genus.
Carnivora : An order of mammals that includes cats, dogs, bears, seals, and mustelids. Martens are mustelids within this broader order of mostly meat-eating mammals.
European pine marten : A European marten species, Martes martes, that lives in woodland and feeds on varied prey and fruit. It is the principal marten species across much of Europe.
Scent marking : The use of odor deposits to communicate identity, reproductive state, or territory. Martens use scent signals to communicate in habitats where individuals are often unseen.
Fur farming : The commercial raising of animals for their pelts. Some marten relatives and, historically, martens themselves have been affected by fur production.
Wolverine : The largest terrestrial mustelid, Gulo gulo, found across northern regions. It shares the weasel family with martens but is far larger and more robust.
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