# Eurasian Pine Marten (*Martes martes*) The Eurasian Pine Marten is a small, furry animal that loves to climb trees and explore the forest. With its bushy tail and playful nature, it is a fun creature to spot in the wild! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Eurasian Pine Marten](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Pine_Marten_%2848173751702%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: caroline legg, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pine_Marten_%2848173751702%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Eurasian Pine Marten has a sleek, chocolate-brown fur coat with a distinctive creamy-yellow 'bib' on its throat and chest. Its long, bushy tail, prominent ears, and pointed muzzle give it a nimble and alert appearance, making it distinct from smaller mustelids. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Mustelidae - **Genus:** Martes ## Interesting facts - Pine martens use a special scent to mark their forest territory. - Sometimes, they follow squirrels to steal their hidden food caches! - Their strong jaws can crack open tough nuts and bird eggs easily. - They build cozy nests, called 'dens', in tree holes or old bird nests! ## Special abilities - **Acrobatic Climber:** Eurasian Pine Marten can expertly climb trees because of its semi-retractable claws and agile body, helping them hunt and escape predators in the canopy. - **Nocturnal Vision:** Eurasian Pine Marten has excellent night vision that helps them hunt in the dark forests, finding small prey even in low light conditions. - **Delayed Birth:** Eurasian Pine Marten can delay the development of its embryos for months, helping them time the birth of kits for optimal survival conditions. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 40-58 cm - **Weight:** 0.8-2.2 kg - **Lifespan:** 8-10 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-5 - **Gestation:** 230-275 days ## Diet & Feeding An agile hunter, it enjoys a varied diet of small animals, fruits, and insects found in its forest home. - **Primary Foods:** voles, squirrels, birds, eggs, berries, insects - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** [Bank Vole](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bank-vole) (*Myodes glareolus*) — A primary food source in many forest habitats. - **Hunts:** Eurasian Red Squirrel (*Sciurus vulgaris*) — Preys on both adults and young squirrels. - **Eaten by:** [Eurasian Eagle-Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eurasian-eagle-owl) (*Bubo bubo*) — A powerful raptor that can prey on pine martens. - **Depends on:** [European Beech](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-beech) (*Fagus sylvatica*) — Its nuts are an important food source in autumn. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low If you see a Pine Marten in the wild, enjoy watching it from a distance and do not try to touch it. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Eurasian Pine Marten? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Eurasian Pine Marten? 40-58 cm ### How much does Eurasian Pine Marten weigh? 0.8-2.2 kg ### How long does Eurasian Pine Marten live? 8-10 years ### How fast can Eurasian Pine Marten move? 35 km/h ### What does Eurasian Pine Marten eat? An agile hunter, it enjoys a varied diet of small animals, fruits, and insects found in its forest home. ### Where is Eurasian Pine Marten usually found? Forests ### How does Eurasian Pine Marten hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Gutturu Mannu Regional Nature Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gutturu-mannu-regional-nature-park) — IT · Park - [Pantalica and Anapo Valley Nature Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pantalica-and-anapo-valley-nature-reserve) — IT · Park - [Serre Regional Nature Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/serre-regional-nature-park) — IT · Park - [Monte Santiago Natural Monument](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/monte-santiago-natural-monument) — Castilla y León, ES · Park - [Livradois-Forez Regional Nature Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/livradois-forez-regional-nature-park) — Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, FR · Park [View all places to see Eurasian Pine Marten](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/eurasian-pine-marten) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Eurasian Pine Marten: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eurasian-pine-marten)