The Nilgiri marten (Martes gwatkinsii)
The Nilgiri marten (Martes gwatkinsii) is a species of carnivorous mammal in the family Mustelidae. It inhabits southeastern India and is found in the Nilgiri Hills and part of the Western Ghats.
Description
The Nilgiri marten is similar to the yellow-throated marten (Martes flavigula), but is longer and different in the structure of its skull, which has a prominent frontal concavity. It has an unmistakable appearance, the neck has a yellow to orange colouration that stands out against the brown body. It has a body length of approximately 55 to 65 cm and a tail length of 40 to 45 cm. It weighs about 2.1 kg.
Local names include the generic name in Tamil, Maranai and in Malayalam, Karumvernku and Koduvalli.
Distribution
The species has been reported from the Nilgiri Mountains, southern sectors of Kodagu and northern Kerala.
Ecology and behaviour
Very little is known about the Nilgiri marten. It is a diurnal animal and although arboreal it occasionally descends to the ground. It has been reported to feed on birds, such as pheasants, and witnesses have seen a marten hunting a crow (this occurred in a mountainous area of the Indian state of Kerala), small mammals (squirrels and rats), lizards and insects such as cicadas. To date, the only information available on this predator. From 2019/2020 predations on Malabar squirrel and attacks on nest of Indian grey hornbill were observed, Ashwin reported a marten predation on a nest of palm squirrels.
