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]