Japanese Marten

The Japanese marten is an agile, partly arboreal mustelid with a long body, short legs and a well-furred tail. Body mass is approximately 1–1.5kg, substantially heavier than the Japanese weasel with which it overlaps (Ohdachi et al. 2009, reported by Tsuji et al. 2011). Coat colour varies, and observers should use build and proportions rather than colour alone when separating it from other Japanese mustelids.

This marten favours valleys and broad-leaved forest but also uses conifer plantations and open ground. Scat studies show an opportunistic omnivore whose diet shifts through the year: fruit and berries are important from spring to autumn, insects in summer and autumn, while small mammals and birds are eaten throughout the year (Tatara and Doi 1994, summarized by Animal Diversity Web). The Tsushima population is Near Threatened (Japan MOE Red List 2020).