Nilgiri Marten is a small mammal native to the Western Ghats. It is the only marten, a weasel-like carnivorous animal, found in India.
It has a deep brown coat from head to rump and its forequarters are usually yellow to orange. It is diurnal and spends most of its time on trees.
Its diet includes birds, small mammals and insects. But it may eat fruits and seeds at times.
With only around a thousand members left, it is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
However, it is slightly longer on average, and the throat patch ranges in colour from yellow to orange. Its body length extends from 55 to 65 cm (22 to 26 inches), with a tail that ranges from 40 to 45 cm (16 to 18 inches) long. The Nilgiri marten is endemic to India’s Western Ghats.
Picture Credit : Google
