Protected animals in Protected animals in BulgariaBulgaria

Martes martesMartes martes

By Radina Beleva, 4By Radina Beleva, 4thth grade – 10 years old, grade – 10 years old, via Internetvia Internet

Scheme 1 . Habitat 2 . Nutrition 3 . Threats to this species

4. Attachments to the living environment 5. Reproduction

• 6. Importance

1 . 1 . Habitat

The European pine marten /Martes martes/ is ananimal native to Northern Europe.

In Bulgaria we can meet the Marten, althoughrarely in Strandja mountain, East Balkan mountain,the lower parts in Rila mountain, Pirin mountainand Rhodopes mountain.

Marten is typical forest animals. It inhabits oldconiferous and mixed forests in hollow trees.

Used Squirrel nests or hollows as a den.

2 . 2 . Nutrition

The Marten eats small mammals, birds, insects, frogs, and carrion. They have also been known to eat berries, bird's eggs, meat, nuts and honey. They are mainly active at night and dusk.

3.3. Threats to this species

Although they are preyed upon occasionally by eagles and by foxes, humans are the largest threat to the martens. They are prized for their very fine fur.

4 . 4 . Attachments to the living environment

As a predator, the marten has developed appropriate facilities in the service of finding, catching, killing and eating prey. It hunts by waiting for the victim, so the species is acquired camouflage colors. Marten has a very nice thick and soft fur: chestnut brown, dark brown on the back and sometimes yellowish brown. Throat and chest have a patch of golden-yellow to orange back with a tuberosity passing between the base of the two front limbs. Its paws are black. In winter its color is darker.

Attachments to the living environment

The Marten is about the size of a domestic cat. Its body is up to 53 cm in length, and its bushy tail can be 25 cm. Males are slightly larger than females; on average a marten weighs around 1.5 kg.

Her teeth are adapted for biting and tearing animal flesh.

Has Anal glands emitting odorous discharge, which marktheir territory and attract partners.

Attachments to the living environment

Martens are the only mustelids with semi-retractable claws. This allows them to run or climb on trees, although they are relatively quick and runners on earth.

Attachments to the living environment

To trace the victims in the woods most important hearing and smell, as predators here have where to hide. Marten has a well developed sense of hearing and smell.

5 . 5 . Reproduction

The Marten has lived to 18 years in captivity, but in the wild a lifespan of eight to ten years is more typical. They reach sexual maturity at two or three years of age. The young are usually born in March or April after a 7 month-long gestation period in litters of one to five. They weigh around 30 grams at birth. The young begin to emerge out of their dens by the middle of June and are fully independent around six months after their birth.

66. . Importance

Тhе fur of marten prices much, which is thereason to exterminate in Europe.Marten israre in Bulgaria, so huntingand is prohibited.Is included as an endangeredspecies in the Red Data Book of Bulgaria.

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