A marten is any of the eight species of weasel-like carnivores in the genus Martes , belonging to the family Mustelidae. They are found in Canada, parts of the United States, and the Old World, from Europe to the Russian Far East, Taiwan, Sumatra, and Borneo. Martens are forest-dwelling and usually solitary animals with slender bodies, short legs, rounded ears, and bushy tails. Their soft, thick coats are valuable in the fur trade. They are known to climb easily and feed rapaciously on animals, fruit, and carrion. The best known species of Martes are the American marten ( M. americana ) and the pine marten ( M. martes ).

To which animal family does the marten belong?

The marten belongs to the family Mustelidae , which includes weasel-like carnivores. Martens are found in North America and in the Old World, from Europe to the Russian Far East, Taiwan, Sumatra, and Borneo. Mustelids are fur-bearing and typically inhabit terrestrial and aquatic regions, excluding Australia, Antarctica, and most oceanic islands. Well-known species of martens include the American marten, pine marten, and stone marten.

Where do martens live in the wild?

Martens are weasel-like carnivores found in North America and the Old World from Europe to the Russian Far East, Taiwan, and the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. They live in forests and are usually solitary. The American marten inhabits northern wooded regions from Alaska to Newfoundland and Labrador. The pine marten lives in European and Central Asian forests, while the stone marten inhabits wooded country in Eurasia from Spain eastward to northern China. The yellow-throated marten is found in southern Asia, and the Nilgiri marten is endemic to India’s Western Ghats.

Martens are carnivorous mammals that belong to the genus Martes . They are forest-dwelling and known to be solitary animals. Martens are known to be facile climbers that feed rapaciously on animals, fruit, and carrion.

How do martens adapt to their environments?

Martens, members of the genus Martes , are weasel-like carnivores found in North America and Eurasia. They have adaptations suited to their forest habitats. Their lithe, slender bodies and short legs enable them to navigate dense undergrowth, and they climb trees with ease. Their diets are diverse, ranging from small animals to fruits and carrion, allowing them to exploit various food sources. The marten's soft, thick coat provides insulation in cold environments and is valuable in the fur trade. Some marten species can delay the implantation of fertilized eggs in the uterus, so the gestation period lasts for around 290 days, especially in northern areas.

Why are martens important in their ecosystems?

Martens, as forest-dwelling and generally solitary animals, play a role in their ecosystems through their feeding habits. They are known to climb easily and feed rapaciously on animals, carrion, and fruit. As carnivores, martens help control populations of rodents and other small animals. They also contribute to the dispersal of seeds through their consumption of fruit.

marten

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marten

mammal

Also known as: Martes

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Britannica Editors

Last updated

Sep. 28, 2026 •History

Top Questions

What is a marten?
A marten is any of the eight species of weasel-like carnivores in the genus Martes, belonging to the family Mustelidae. They are found in Canada, parts of the United States, and the Old World, from Europe to the Russian Far East, Taiwan, Sumatra, and Borneo.

Martens are forest-dwelling and usually solitary animals with slender bodies, short legs, rounded ears, and bushy tails. Their soft, thick coats are valuable in the fur trade. They are known to climb easily and feed rapaciously on animals, fruit, and carrion. The best known species of Martes are the American marten (M. americana) and the pine marten (M. martes).
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To which animal family does the marten belong?
The marten belongs to the family Mustelidae, which includes weasel-like carnivores. Martens are found in North America and in the Old World, from Europe to the Russian Far East, Taiwan, Sumatra, and Borneo.

Mustelids are fur-bearing and typically inhabit terrestrial and aquatic regions, excluding Australia, Antarctica, and most oceanic islands. Well-known species of martens include the American marten, pine marten, and stone marten.
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Where do martens live in the wild?
Martens are weasel-like carnivores found in North America and the Old World from Europe to the Russian Far East, Taiwan, and the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. They live in forests and are usually solitary. The American marten inhabits northern wooded regions from Alaska to Newfoundland and Labrador. The pine marten lives in European and Central Asian forests, while the stone marten inhabits wooded country in Eurasia from Spain eastward to northern China. The yellow-throated marten is found in southern Asia, and the Nilgiri marten is endemic to India’s Western Ghats.
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1. marten
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What do martens eat?
Martens are carnivorous mammals that belong to the genus Martes. They are forest-dwelling and known to be solitary animals. Martens are known to be facile climbers that feed rapaciously on animals, fruit, and carrion.
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2. list of mustelids: weasel subfamily (Mustelinae)
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How do martens adapt to their environments?
Martens, members of the genus Martes, are weasel-like carnivores found in North America and Eurasia. They have adaptations suited to their forest habitats. Their lithe, slender bodies and short legs enable them to navigate dense undergrowth, and they climb trees with ease.

Their diets are diverse, ranging from small animals to fruits and carrion, allowing them to exploit various food sources. The marten's soft, thick coat provides insulation in cold environments and is valuable in the fur trade. Some marten species can delay the implantation of fertilized eggs in the uterus, so the gestation period lasts for around 290 days, especially in northern areas.
1 Britannica Source
1. marten
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Why are martens important in their ecosystems?
Martens, as forest-dwelling and generally solitary animals, play a role in their ecosystems through their feeding habits. They are known to climb easily and feed rapaciously on animals, carrion, and fruit. As carnivores, martens help control populations of rodents and other small animals. They also contribute to the dispersal of seeds through their consumption of fruit.
1 Britannica Source
1. marten
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marten, (genus Martes), any of eight species of weasel-like carnivores of the genus Martes (family Mustelidae), found in Canada and parts of the United States and in the Old World from Europe to the Russian Far East, Taiwan, and the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. Differing in size and coloration according to species, they have lithe slender bodies, short legs, rounded ears, bushy tails, and soft thick coats that are valuable in the fur trade. Martens are forest-dwelling and usually solitary. They climb easily and feed rapaciously on animals, fruit, and carrion. A litter contains one to five young; the gestation period, especially in northern areas, may last 290 days or more because of a delay before implantation of the fertilized egg in the wall of the uterus.

Animals commonly called “marten” but better known by other names include the fisher (Pekania pennanti; also called Pennant’s, big, or fisher marten) and the foul marten, or polecat (Mustela putorius).

The best known species of Martes are the following:

Dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius). Animals, mammals.

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The American marten (M. americana) is a North American species that inhabits northern wooded regions from Alaska to Newfoundland and Labrador. It is also called the pine marten. Its fur is sometimes sold as American, or Hudson Bay, sable. Its adult length is 35–43 cm (14–17 inches), exclusive of the 18–23-cm (7–9-inch) tail. It weighs 1–2 kg (about 2–4 pounds) and has a yellowish brown coat deepening to dark brown on the tail and legs, with a pale whitish or yellowish throat patch.

The pine marten (M. martes) of European and Central Asian forests is also called the European marten and, less commonly, baum marten and sweet marten. It has a dark brown coat with an undivided yellowish throat patch. Its head-and-body length is 42–52 cm (about 16.5–20.5 inches), with a 22–27-cm (about 9–11-inch) long tail. Its shoulder height is 15 cm (about 6 inches), and its weight is 1–2 kg (2.2–4.4 pounds).

The stone marten, or beech marten (M. foina), inhabits wooded country in Eurasia from Spain eastward to northern China. It has grayish brown fur with a divided white throat bib. It weighs 1–2.5 kg (about 2–5.5 pounds), is 42–48 cm (16.5–19 inches) long, and stands 12 cm (roughly 5 inches) high at the shoulder.

The yellow-throated marten (M. flavigula), of the subgenus Charronia, is also called the harza. It is found in southern Asia. Its head-and-body length is 56–61 cm (22–24 inches), and its tail is 38–43 cm (15–17 inches) long. It has a brown coat that darkens toward and on the tail, and its throat and chin are orange.

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The Nilgiri marten (M. gwatkinsii) is similar to the yellow-throated marten. However, it is slightly longer on average, and the throat patch ranges in colour from yellow to orange. Its body length extends from 55 to 65 cm (22 to 26 inches), with a tail that ranges from 40 to 45 cm (16 to 18 inches) long. The Nilgiri marten is endemic to India’s Western Ghats.

The International Union of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) considers nearly all martens to be species of least concern. However, the IUCN lists the Nilgiri marten as a vulnerable species. After many years of falling population numbers because of deforestation and bounty hunting, the IUCN notes that the rate of population decline has slowed considerably as India has added measures to protect the species.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by John P. Rafferty.

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