Yellow-throated marten
| Yellow-throated Marten | |
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| Genus: | Pinel, 1792
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| Species: | M. flavigula
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| Martes flavigula Boddaert, 1785
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M. f. flavigula (Boddaert, 1785) | |
The Yellow-throated Marten (Martes flavigula) is a medium-sized carnivore of the weasel family with an orange-yellow dark brown coat and creamy yellow throated. This species of marten in the genus Martes is found in subtropical and tropical forests. Its elevational range extends from sea-level to 3000 m. There are about ten subspecies of M. flavigula reported. M. flavigula is bigger than the stone marten (M. foina) and its tail is not bushy.
Description
M. flavigula is a species of marten in the family of Mustelidae. It is a medium-sized carnivore that has an orange-yellow to dark brown coat, with a creamy yellow throat [2]. M. flavigula is distinguished from M. foina (stone marten) by its larger size and longer limbs and tail. Unlike M. foina its tail is not bushy. Its head and body length is about 40-60 cm with a tail length of 38-43 cm. Its ears are low-set and rounded, its ear tips are at the same level as their broad flat skull. The feet have naked pads with sharp claws [3]. An adult M. flavigula can weigh up to 3.4 kg [3].
Distribution
M. flavigula is the only species of Martes found in subtropical and tropical forests [4][5]. Its range extents from sea-level to 3000 m altitude [1]. It can be found in the temperate forests of the Himalayas, Southeast Asia and East Asia, Russian Far East, And Korean Peninsula.
According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (2008) M. flavigula can be found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Korea, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam [1].
Ecology
Yellow-throated martens are generally solitary, except for the females who live with their offspring for a period of 3 to 4 months. They are good climbers and live mostly in trees. Even though they are diurnal animals, they also hunt at night and close to human habitation. They probably mate in August and give birth in April [3]. Their diet consists of rodents, bird eggs, frogs, insects and honey. They also eat fruit and are therefore considered to be important seed dispersers [4].
Conservation status
Yellow-throated marten is listed as least concern in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (2008). Despite the large scales of deforestation in its habitat, it can still survive well in the remaining forests, including secondary stands [1]. It is hunted in Siberia and Korea for its fur [1], but not for bushmeat due to the unpleasant odor of its meat [5].
References
- ^ a b c d e Template:IUCN2008 Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is of least concern
- ^ Anonymous (2008). Pictures and Facts about the Yellow-throated Marten Web (online). Accessed January 14, 2009 at http://www.thewebsiteforeverything.com
- ^ a b c Hussain, S.A. (n.d.). Mustelids, Viverrids and Herpestids of India: Species Profile and Conservation Status. Retrieved January 14, 2009, from http://www.wii.gov.in
- ^ a b Zhou, Y., Slade, E., Newman, C., Wang, X., & Zhang, S. (2008). Frugivory and Seed Dispersal by the Yellow-Throated Marten, Martes flavigula, in a Subtropical Forest of China. Journal of Tropical Ecology 24: 219-223
- ^ a b Proulx, G., Aubry, K., Birks, J., Buskirk, S., Fortin, C., Frost, H., et al (2004) World Distribution and Status of the Genus Martes in 2000. In D. Harrisson, A. Fuller and G. Proulx. Martens and Fishers (Martes) in Human-Altered Environments. USA: Springer Science + Business Media, Inc. pp. 21-76
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