Sable

Males measure 38–56 cm (15–22 in) in body length, with a tail measuring 9–12 cm (3.5–4.7 in), and weigh 880–1,800 grams (31–63 oz). Females have a body length of 35–51 cm (14–20 in), with a tail length of 7.2–11.5 cm (2.8–4.5 in). The winter pelage is longer and more luxurious than the summer coat. Different subspecies display geographic variations of fur colour, which ranges from light to dark brown, with individual coloring being lighter ventrally and darker on the back and legs. Japanese sables in particular are marked with black on their legs and feet. Individuals also display a light patch of fur on their throat which may be gray, white, or pale yellow. The fur is softer and silkier than that of American martens. Sables greatly resemble pine martens in size and appearance, but have more elongated heads, longer ears and proportionately shorter tails. Their skulls are similar to those of pine martens, but larger and more robust with more arched zygomatic arches.

In Russia, the sable's distribution is largely the result of mass re-introductions involving 19,000 animals between 1940 and 1965. Its range extends northward to the tree line, and extends south to 55–60° latitude in western Siberia, and 42° in the mountainous areas of eastern Asia. Its western distribution encompasses the Ural Mountains, where it is sympatric with the European pine marten. It also occurs on Sakhalin. In Mongolia, the sable occurs in the Altai Mountains and in the surrounding forests of Lake Hovsgol, the latter being contiguous with the Transbaikal boreal forest region from which the most valuable sable pelts come. In China, it occurs in a limited area of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. In northeastern China, it is now limited to the Greater Khingan Range. In eastern Heilongjiang, it persists in the Lesser Khingan Range and also occurs in Hokkaido and on the Korean peninsula. Because of the variable appearance of the sable in different geographic localities, there has been some debate over the exact number of subspecies that can be clearly identified. Mammal Species of the World recognises seventeen different subspecies, but other recent scholarly sources have identified anything from seven to thirty.

The sable inhabits dense forests dominated by spruce, pine, larch, Siberian cedar, and birch in both lowland and mountainous terrain. Its home range is estimated at 4 to 30 km2 (1.5 to 11.6 sq mi) in size, depending on local terrain and food availability. However, when resources are scarce, it moves considerable distances in search of food, with travel rates of 6 to 12 km (4 to 7 mi) per day having been recorded. The sable lives in burrows near riverbanks and in the thickest parts of woods. These burrows are commonly made more secure by being dug among tree roots. It is a good climber of cliffs and trees. It is primarily crepuscular, hunting during the hours of twilight, but becomes more active in the day during the mating season. Its dens are well hidden, and lined by grass and shed fur, but may be temporary, especially during the winter, when the animal travels more widely in search of prey. The sable is an omnivore, and its diet varies seasonally. In the summer, it consumes large numbers of mountain hare and other small mammals. In winter, when it is confined to its retreat by frost and snow, it feeds on wild berries, rodents, hares, and even small musk deer. It also hunts stoat, small weasels and birds. Sometimes, it follows the tracks of wolves and bears and feeds on the remains of their kills. …

The name sable appears to be of Slavic origin and entered most Western European languages via the early medieval fur trade. Thus the Russian соболь (sobol') and Polish soból became the German Zobel, Dutch sabel; the French zibeline, Spanish cibelina, cebellina, Finnish soopeli, Portuguese zibelina and Medieval Latin zibellina derive from the Italian form (zibellino). The English and Medieval Latin word sabellum comes from the Old French sable or saible.