Nilgiri marten

Species of carnivore

Nilgiri marten

Conservation status

Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)[1]

Scientific classification
Domain:  | Eukaryota
Kingdom:  | Animalia
Phylum:  | Chordata
Class:  | Mammalia
Order:  | Carnivora
Family:  | Mustelidae
Genus:  | Martes
Species:  |

M. gwatkinsii

Binomial name
Martes gwatkinsii

(Horsfield, 1851)

Nilgiri marten range
Synonyms

Charronia gwatkinsii

The Nilgiri marten (Martes gwatkinsii) is the only marten species native to southern India. It lives in the hills of the Nilgiris and parts of the Western Ghats. With only around a thousand members left it is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.[1]

## Characteristics

[edit]

The Nilgiri marten is deep brown from head to rump, with the forequarters being almost reddish, with a bright throat ranging in colour from yellow to orange. It has a prominent frontal concavity and is larger than the yellow-throated marten.[2] It is about 55–65 cm (22–26 in) long from head to vent and has a tail of 40–45 cm (16–18 in). It weighs about 2.1 kg (4.6 lb).[3]: 6

## Distribution and habitat

[edit]

Two Nilgiri martens in Pampadum Shola National Park

The Nilgiri marten mainly inhabits the shola grassland and high altitude evergreen forests, and occasionally the adjacent mid-altitude moist deciduous forests and commercial plantations, that span the Western Ghats in the South Indian states of Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. The marten's English common name is derived from the Nilgiri Hills that form the center of its range, but sightings have been reported as far north as Charmadi Ghat and as far south as the Neyyar and Peppara Wildlife Sanctuaries.[4][5][6][7][8][9]

## Behaviour and ecology

[edit]

The Nilgiri marten is diurnal. It is mainly arboreal, but descends to the ground occasionally. It is omnivorous and preys on birds, small mammals (including the Malabar giant squirrel) and insects such as cicadas.[10][2] It has also been observed feeding on a variety of fruits and seeds.[11]

## Taxonomy

[edit]

The Nilgiri marten was described by Thomas Horsfield based on a skin in the museum of the East India Company; it is named after the collector Reynolds Gwatkins.[12]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Mudappa, D.; Jathana, D. & Raman, T. R. S. (2016) [errata version of 2015 assessment]. "Martes gwatkinsii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T12847A86161239. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T12847A45199025.en. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
2. ^ a b Prater, S. H. (2005) [1971]. The Book of Indian Animals (3rd ed.). Mumbai: Bombay Natural History Society, Oxford University Press.
3. ^ Hussain, S. A. (1999). "Mustelids, Viverrids and Herpestids of India: Species Profile and Conservation Status". ENVIS Bulletin: Wildlife and Protected Areas. 2 (2): 1–38.
4. ^ Christopher, G. & Jayson, E. A. (1996). "Sightings of Nilgiri marten (Martes gwatkinsii Horsfield) at Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary and Silent Valley National Park, Kerala, India". Small Carnivore Conservation. 15: 3–4. Archived from the original on 19 April 2020.
5. ^ Madhusudan, M. D. (1995). "Sighting of the Nilgiri marten (Martes gwatkinsii) at Eravikulam National Park, Kerala, India". Small Carnivore Conservation. 13: 6–7. Archived from the original on 19 April 2020.
6. ^ Gokula, V. & Ramachandran, N. K. (1996). "A record of the Nilgiri marten (Martes gwatkinsii Horsfield) in Upper Bhavani". Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 93 (1): 82.
7. ^ Mudappa, D. (1999). "Lesser Known Carnivores of the Western Ghats". ENVIS Bulletin: Wildlife and Protected Areas. 2 (2). Dehradun: Wildlife Institute of India: 65–70.
8. ^ Balakrishnan, P. (2005). "Recent sightings and habitat characteristics of the endemic Nilgiri Marten Martes gwatkinsii in Western Ghats, India". Small Carnivore Conservation. 33: 14–16. Archived from the original on 19 April 2020.
9. ^ Krishna, K. & Karnad, D. (2010). "New records of the Nilgiri marten Martes gwatkinsii in the Western Ghats, India". Small Carnivore Conservation. 43: 23–27. Archived from the original on 19 April 2020.
10. ^ Hutton, A. F. (1948). "Feeding habits of the Nilgiri marten [Charronia gwatkinsii (Horsfield)]". Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 48 (2): 355–356. ISSN 0006-6982.
11. ^ Anil, G.; Kishor, N.; Gafoor, N.; Ommer, N. & Nameer, P. O. (2018). "Observations on the Nilgiri Marten Martes gwatkinsii (Mammalia: Carnivora: Mustelidae) from Pampadum Shola National Park, the southern Western Ghats, India". Journal of Threatened Taxa. 10 (1): 11226–11230. doi:10.11609/jott.3446.10.1.11226-11230.
12. ^ Catalogue of the Mammalia in the Museum of the Hon. East-India Company. London: Printed by J. & H. Cox. 1851. pp. 99–101. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.32671. OCLC 1109424. OL 243736W.

## External links

[edit]

* Photographs: Close encounters in the wild
* NilgiriMarten.com (archived 26 December 2009)

* v
* t
* e

Extant Carnivora species

* Kingdom: Animalia
* Phylum: Chordata
* Class: Mammalia
* Infraclass: Eutheria
* Superorder: Laurasiatheria

Feliformia ("cat-like" carnivorans)

Feliformia

* African palm civet (Nandinia binotata)

Feloidea

| Prionodon (Asiatic linsangs)|

* Banded linsang (P. linsang)
* Spotted linsang (P. pardicolor)

|

Felidae (cats)

| Pantherinae|

| Neofelis|

* Sunda clouded leopard (N. diardi)
* Clouded leopard (N. nebulosa)

|

Panthera|

* Snow leopard (P. uncia)
* Tiger (P. tigris)
* Jaguar (P. onca)
* Lion (P. leo)
* Leopard (P. pardus)

Felinae sensu stricto

| Bay cat
lineage|

| Pardofelis|

* Marbled cat (P. marmorata)

|

Catopuma|

* Bay cat (C. badia)
* Asian golden cat (C. temminckii)

Caracal
lineage|

* Serval (Leptailurus serval)

Caracal|

* African golden cat (C. aurata)
* Caracal (C. caracal)

Leopardus|

* Pampas cat (L. colocola)
* Geoffroy's cat (L. geoffroyi)
* Kodkod (L. guigna)
* Southern tiger cat (L. guttulus)
* Andean mountain cat (L. jacobita)
* Ocelot (L. pardalis)
* Oncilla (L. tigrinus)
* Margay (L. wiedii)

Lynx|

* Canada lynx (L. canadensis)
* Eurasian lynx (L. lynx)
* Iberian lynx (L. pardinus)
* Bobcat (L. rufus)

Puma
lineage|

| Acinonyx|

* Cheetah (A. jubatus)

|

* Jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi)

Puma|

* Cougar (P. concolor)

Leopard cat
lineage|

* Pallas's cat (Otocolobus manul)

Prionailurus|

* Leopard cat (P. bengalensis)
* Sunda leopard cat (P. javanensis)
* Flat-headed cat (P. planiceps)
* Rusty-spotted cat (P. rubiginosus)
* Fishing cat (P. viverrinus)

Felis|

* Chinese mountain cat (F. bieti)
* Domestic cat (F. catus)
* Jungle cat (F. chaus)
* African wildcat (F. lybica)
* Sand cat (F. margarita)
* Black-footed cat (F. nigripes)
* European wildcat (F. silvestris)

Viverroidea|

*     * see below↓

Viverroidea

Viverridae

| Hemigalinae|

* Owston's palm civet (Chrotogale owstoni)
* Otter civet (Cynogale bennettii)
* Hose's palm civet (Diplogale hosei)
* Banded palm civet (Hemigalus derbyanus)

|

Paradoxurinae|

* Binturong (Arctictis binturong)
* Small-toothed palm civet (Arctogalidia trivirgata)
* Sulawesi palm civet (Macrogalidia musschenbroekii)
* Masked palm civet (Paguma larvata)

Paradoxurus|

* Asian palm civet (P. hermaphroditus)
* Brown palm civet (P. jerdoni)
* Golden palm civet (P. zeylonensis)

Viverrinae
sensu lato

| Viverrinae
sensu stricto|

* Small Indian civet (Viverricula indica)
* African civet (Civettictis civetta)

Viverra|

* Malabar large-spotted civet (V. civettina)
* Large-spotted civet (V. megaspila)
* Malayan civet (V. tangalunga)
* Large Indian civet (V. zibetha)

Genettinae|

| Poiana
(African linsangs)|

* Central African oyan (P. richardsonii)
* West African oyan (P. leightoni)

|

Genetta
(genets)|

* Abyssinian genet (G. abyssinica)
* Angolan genet (G. angolensis)
* Bourlon's genet (G. bourloni)
* Crested servaline genet (G. cristata)
* Common genet (G. genetta)
* Johnston's genet (G. johnstoni)
* Letaba genet (G. letabae)
* Rusty-spotted genet (G. maculata)
* Pardine genet (G. pardina)
* Aquatic genet (G. piscivora)
* King genet (G. poensis)
* Servaline genet (G. servalina)
* Hausa genet (G. thierryi)
* Cape genet (G. tigrina)
* Giant forest genet (G. victoriae)
* South African small-spotted genet (G. felina)

| Herpestoidea|

*     * see below↓

|

Herpestoidea

| Hyaenidae
(hyenas)|

| Proteles|

* Aardwolf (P. cristata)

|

Hyaeninae
(bone-crushing hyenas)|

* Striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena)
* Brown hyena (Parahyaena brunnea)

Crocuta|

* Spotted hyena (C. crocuta)

Herpestidae sensu lato

| Eupleridae
(Malagasy
carnivorans)|

| Euplerinae|

* Fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox)
* Malagasy civet (Fossa fossana)

Eupleres|

* Eastern falanouc (E. goudotii)
* Western falanouc (E. major)

Galidiinae|

* Ring-tailed vontsira (Galidia elegans)

Galidictis|

* Broad-striped Malagasy mongoose (G. fasciata)
* Grandidier's mongoose (G. grandidieri)

* Narrow-striped mongoose (Mungotictis decemlineata)

Salanoia|

* Brown-tailed mongoose (S. concolor)
* Durrell's vontsira (S. durrelli)

Herpestidae
sensu stricto
(mongooses)|

| Mungotinae|

| Suricata|

* Meerkat (S. suricatta)

|

* Liberian mongoose (Liberiictus kuhni)

Mungos|

* Gambian mongoose (M. gambianus)
* Banded mongoose (M. mungo)

* Pousargues's mongoose (Dologale dybowskii)

Helogale|

* Ethiopian dwarf mongoose (H. hirtula)
* Common dwarf mongoose (H. parvula)

Crossarchus|

* Alexander's kusimanse (C. alexandri)
* Angolan kusimanse (C. ansorgei)
* Common kusimanse (C. obscurus)
* Flat-headed kusimanse (C. platycephalus)

Herpestinae|

* Marsh mongoose (Atilax paludinosus)
* Long-nosed mongoose (Xenogale naso)

Urva|

* Small Indian mongoose (U. auropunctata)
* Short-tailed mongoose (U. brachyura)
* Indian grey mongoose (U. edwardsii)
* Indian brown mongoose (U. fusca)
* Javan mongoose (U. javanica)
* Collared mongoose (U. semitorquata)
* Ruddy mongoose (U. smithii)
* Crab-eating mongoose (U. urva)
* Stripe-necked mongoose (U. vitticolla)

* White-tailed mongoose (Ichneumia albicauda)
* Yellow mongoose (Cynictis penicillata)
* Selous's mongoose (Paracynictis selousi)
* Meller's mongoose (Rhynchogale melleri)

Bdeogale|

* Bushy-tailed mongoose (B. crassicauda)
* Jackson's mongoose (B. jacksoni)
* Black-footed mongoose (B. nigripes)

Herpestes|

* Angolan slender mongoose (H. flavescens)
* Egyptian mongoose (H. ichneumon)
* Somalian slender mongoose (H. ochracea)
* Cape gray mongoose (H. pulverulenta)
* Common slender mongoose (H. sanguinea)

Caniformia ("dog-like" carnivorans)

Canidae (dogs)

| Urocyon|

* Gray fox (U. cinereoargenteus)
* Island fox (U. littoralis)

|

Vulpini|

* Bat-eared fox (Otocyon megalotis)

Nyctereutes|

* Common raccoon dog (N. procyonoides)
* Japanese raccoon dog (N. viverrinus)

Vulpes
(foxes)|

* Bengal fox (V. bengalensis)
* Blanford's fox (V. cana)
* Cape fox (V. chama)
* Corsac fox (V. corsac)
* Tibetan fox (V. ferrilata)
* Arctic fox (V. lagopus)
* Kit fox (V. macrotis)
* Pale fox (V. pallida)
* Rüppell's fox (V. rueppelli)
* Swift fox (V. velox)
* Red fox (V. vulpes)
* Fennec fox (V. zerda)

Canini
(true dogs)|

| Cerdocyonina
(zorro)|

* Maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus)

Speothos|

* Bush dog (S. venaticus)

* Short-eared dog (Atelocynus microtis)
* Crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous)

Lycalopex|

* Culpeo (L. culpaeus)
* Darwin's fox (L. fulvipes)
* South American gray fox (L. griseus)
* Pampas fox (L. gymnocercus)
* Sechuran fox (L. sechurae)
* Hoary fox (L. vetulus)

Canina
(wolf-like canids)|

| Lupulella|

* Side-striped jackal (L. adustus)
* Black-backed jackal (L. mesomelas)

|

* African wild dog (Lycaon pictus)
* Dhole (Cuon alpinus)

Canis|

* Golden jackal (C. aureus)
* Domestic dog (C. familiaris)
* Coyote (C. latrans)
* African wolf (C. lupaster)
* Wolf (C. lupus)
* Eastern wolf (C. lycaon)
* Red wolf (C. rufus)
* Ethiopian wolf (C. simensis)

Arctoidea

| Ursidae
(bears)|

| Ailuropoda|

* Giant panda (A. melanoleuca)

|

Tremarctos|

* Spectacled bear (T. ornatus)

Ursinae|

* Sloth bear (Melursus ursinus)
* Sun bear (Helarctos malayanus)

Ursus|

* American black bear (U. americanus)
* Asian black bear (U. thibetanus)
* Brown bear (U. arctos)
* Polar bear (U. maritimus)

Mustelida|

| Pinnipedia (seals)|

*     * see below↓

|

Musteloidea|

*     * see below↓

Pinnipedia (seals)

| Odobenidae|

* Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus)

|

Otariidae
(eared seals:
fur seals,
sea lions)|

| Callorhinus|

* Northern fur seal (C. ursinus)

|

Otariinae|

* Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus)

Zalophus|

* California sea lion (Z. californianus)
* Galápagos sea lion (Z. wollebaeki)

* South American sea lion (Otaria flavescens)

Neophoca|

* Australian sea lion (N. cinerea)

* New Zealand sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri)

Arctocephalus|

* South American fur seal (A. australis)
* Australasian fur seal (A. forsteri)
* Galápagos fur seal (A. galapagoensis)
* Antarctic fur seal (A. gazella)
* Juan Fernández fur seal (A. philippii)
* Brown fur seal (A. pusillus)
* Guadalupe fur seal (A. townsendi)
* Subantarctic fur seal (A. tropicalis)

Phocidae
(earless seals
or true seals)|

| Phocinae
("northern seals")|

* Bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus)
* Hooded seal (Cystophora cristata)

Phocini|

* Harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus)
* Ribbon seal (Histriophoca fasciata)
* Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus)

Phoca|

* Spotted seal (P. largha)
* Harbor seal (P. vitulina)

Pusa|

* Caspian seal (P. caspica)
* Ringed seal (P. hispida)
* Baikal seal (P. sibirica)

Monachinae
("southern seals")|

| Monachini
(monk seals)|

* Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus)

Neomonachus|

* Hawaiian monk seal (N. schauinslandi)

Mirounga
(elephant seals)|

* Northern elephant seal (M. angustirostris)
* Southern elephant seal (M. leonina)

Lobodontini
(Antarctic seals)|

* Leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx)
* Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii)
* Crabeater seal (Lobodon carcinophagus)
* Ross seal (Ommatophoca rossi)

Musteloidea

| Ailuridae|

* Red panda (Ailurus fulgens)

|

Mephitidae
(skunks)|

| Conepatus
(hog-nosed skunks)|

* Molina's hog-nosed skunk (C. chinga)
* Humboldt's hog-nosed skunk (C. humboldtii)
* American hog-nosed skunk (C. leuconotus)
* Striped hog-nosed skunk (C. semistriatus)

|

Mephitis|

* Hooded skunk (M. macroura)
* Striped skunk (M. mephitis)

Mydaus
(stink badgers)|

* Sunda stink badger (M. javanensis)
* Palawan stink badger (M. marchei)

Spilogale
(spotted skunks)|

* Southern spotted skunk (S. angustifrons)
* Western spotted skunk (S. gracilis)
* Eastern spotted skunk (S. putorius)
* Pygmy spotted skunk (S. pygmaea)

Procyonidae|

* Kinkajou (Potos flavus)

Bassariscus|

* Ringtail (B. astutus)
* Cacomistle (B. sumichrasti)

Procyon
(raccoons)|

* Crab-eating raccoon (P. cancrivorus)
* Raccoon (P. lotor)
* Cozumel raccoon (P. pygmaeus)

Bassaricyon
(olingos)|

* Eastern lowland olingo (B. alleni)
* Northern olingo (B. gabbii)
* Western lowland olingo (B. medius)
* Olinguito (B. neblina)

Nasuina
(coatis)|

| Nasua|

* South American coati (N. nasua)
* White-nosed coati (N. narica)

|

Nasuella|

* Eastern mountain coati (N. meridensis)
* Western mountain coati (N. olivacea)

Mustelidae|

*     * see below↓

Mustelidae

Mustelidae

* American badger (Taxidea taxus)

Mellivora|

* Honey badger (M. capensis)

Melinae
(Eurasian badgers)|

| Arctonyx|

* Northern hog badger (A. albogularis)
* Greater hog badger (A. collaris)
* Sumatran hog badger (A. hoevenii)

|

Meles|

* Japanese badger (M. anakuma)
* Caucasian badger (M. canescens)
* Asian badger (M. leucurus)
* European badger (M. meles)

Melogale
(ferret-badgers)|

* Vietnam ferret-badger (M. cucphuongensis)
* Bornean ferret badger (M. everetti)
* Chinese ferret-badger (M. moschata)
* Javan ferret-badger (M. orientalis)
* Burmese ferret-badger (M. personata)
* Formosan ferret-badger (M. subaurantiaca)

Guloninae|

* Tayra (Eira barbara)

Pekania|

* Fisher (P. pennanti)

Gulo|

* Wolverine (G. gulo)

Martes
(martens)|

* American marten (M. americana)
* Pacific marten (M. caurina)
* Yellow-throated marten (M. flavigula)
* Beech marten (M. foina)
* Nilgiri marten (M. gwatkinsii)
* European pine marten (M. martes)
* Japanese marten (M. melampus)
* Sable (M. zibellina)

Ictonychinae|

| Lyncodontini|

* Patagonian weasel (Lyncodon patagonicus)

Galictis
(grisons)|

* Lesser grison (G. cuja)
* Greater grison (G. vittata)

Ictonychini
(African polecats)|

| Vormela|

* Marbled polecat (V. peregusna)

|

* African striped weasel (Poecilogale albinucha)

Ictonyx|

* Saharan striped polecat (I. libycus)
* Striped polecat (I. striatus)

Lutrinae
(otters)|

* Giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis)

Lontra|

* North American river otter (L. canadensis)
* Marine otter (L. felina)
* Neotropical otter (L. longicaudis)
* Southern river otter (L. provocax)

Enhydra|

* Sea otter (E. lutris)

* Spotted-necked otter (Hydrictis maculicollis)

Lutra|

* Eurasian otter (L. lutra)
* Hairy-nosed otter (L. sumatrana)

Lutrogale|

* Smooth-coated otter (L. perspicillata)

Aonyx|

* African clawless otter (A. capensis)
* Asian small-clawed otter (A. cinereus)
* Congo clawless otter (A. congicus)

Mustelinae|

| Neogale|

* Amazon weasel (N. africana)
* Colombian weasel (N. felipei)
* Long-tailed weasel (N. frenata)
* American mink (N. vison)

|

Mustela
(weasels)|

* Sichuan weasel (M. aistoodonnivalis)
* Mountain weasel (M. altaica)
* Stoat/Beringian ermine (M. erminea)
* Steppe polecat (M. eversmannii)
* Ferret (M. furo)
* Haida ermine (M. haidarum)
* Japanese weasel (M. itatsi)
* Yellow-bellied weasel (M. kathiah)
* European mink (M. lutreola)
* Indonesian mountain weasel (M. lutreolina)
* Black-footed ferret (M. nigripes)
* Least weasel (M. nivalis)
* Malayan weasel (M. nudipes)
* European polecat (M. putorius)
* American ermine (M. richardsonii)
* Siberian weasel (M. sibirica)
* Back-striped weasel (M. strigidorsa)

Taxon identifiers

Martes gwatkinsii|

* Wikidata: Q602823
* Wikispecies: Martes gwatkinsii
* ADW: Martes_gwatkinsii
* CoL: 3Y9VX
* EoL: 328017
* GBIF: 5218863
* iNaturalist: 41797
* IRMNG: 11068772
* ITIS: 621942
* IUCN: 12847
* MDD: 1005821
* MSW: 14001240
* Observation.org: 84635
* Open Tree of Life: 3612688
* Species+: 7173

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