On Apr 14, 2010, at 2:00 AM, Sukie wrote:

>... this is a scientific article press release and these actually
>are polecats, ferrets, or a cross.

I thought wild stock polecats or polecat/ferret crosses had the typical
sable coloration, with a dark mask and darkening of extremities. (Bob?
Verify?)

The coloration of the mustelid in the picture looks a lot more like a
marten, which in both European and American species is a more solid
chestnut brown, with golden highlights (if any). Since the article says
they are living in a conifer forest (typical of martens), is there any
chance this is a new species of marten rather than a ferret? Or even a
marten-ferret cross, since the face looks much more like a ferret than
the slightly foxy-looking marten (though that would require a taxonomy
shift, since martens are Martes rather than Furo).

I know coloration is probably the least reliable species indicator but
I'm just wondering.

-Claire

[Posted in FML 6668]