One of the 4 martens on WAnimals
Mammals · Carnivora · Mustelidae
Sable
Martes zibellina
Least Concern
The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk.
The sable is a mustelid of the Siberian taiga whose fur has for centuries been among the most valuable in the world. It is an opportunistic predator: rodents, squirrels, birds, eggs, insects, pine nuts and berries according to the season. It moves both on the ground and through the trees, and in winter it hunts beneath the snow. Pressure from the fur trade brought it to the brink of extinction in the early 20th century, and the creation of reserves and Soviet hunting bans allowed it to recover to today's abundant populations.
Weight
700 g – 1.8 kg
Size
35 cm – 56 cm
Life expectancy
15 years
