Details
Martes zibellina
A mustelid of Siberian and northeast Asian forests, famous for dark, soft fur. It is closely tied to taiga habitats.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
Sables inhabit taiga, mountain forest, mixed conifer-broadleaf woods, and forests with logs and rocks. Snow spaces and root tangles provide winter cover.
They have a slender body, short legs, bushy tail, and dark brown to blackish fur. Some individuals show a pale throat patch.
Solitary individuals use both ground and trees. Activity often peaks at twilight or night, with resting sites under logs, rocks, or roots.
They eat rodents, squirrels, birds, eggs, insects, fruit, and pine nuts. Small mammals become especially important in winter.
Delayed implantation occurs, and females give birth in spring in tree hollows or ground dens. Young remain near the den until independent.
Heavy trapping for fur once reduced populations. Hunting controls and forest conservation remain important for long-term management.
