Meet the Martes Complex
Comprising 11 species, the Martes complex showcases the global diversity of the Guloninae mustelids.
What Are Mustelids?
Mustelids are the largest and most diverse family of small carnivores, encompassing over 60 species across several subfamilies. This group includes well-known animals like otters, weasels, badgers, and wolverines, as well as lesser-known but ecologically important species like those in the Martes complex.
Who are These Guloninae Species?
The Martes complex refers to a group of 11 closely related species within the mustelid family, including martens, tayras, fishers, and wolverines. Together, they form the Guloninae subfamily and are known for their tree-climbing skills, wide-ranging behaviours, and ecological importance across forested habitats.
Diversity in Action
The eight marten species, tayras, fishers, and wolverines showcase the incredible range of behaviours and adaptations found among mustelids.
Martens are known for their tree-climbing agility and secretive habits, while tayras roam tropical forests, fishers excel at hunting in snowy forests, and wolverines dominate rugged alpine terrain. Each plays a unique role in its ecosystem, from dispersing seeds to managing small mammal populations.
Martes Complex Species Around the World
Guloninae species are found across much of the Northern Hemisphere with some reaching into the Southern Hemisphere.
Northern Hemisphere Stronghold
Most Guloninae species are found in the forests, mountains, and cold regions of the Northern Hemisphere:
North America – Includes martens, fishers, and wolverines across boreal and montane ecosystems
Europe & Asia – Home to a wide variety of forest-dwelling martens and the wolverine
India & East Asia – Habitat of rare species like the Nilgiri marten and Japanese marten
Southern Hemisphere Outliers
Only two species naturally cross into the Southern Hemisphere:
Tayra – Found in Central and South America, including parts south of the equator
Yellow-throated Marten – Extends into the Southern Hemisphere on islands such as Sumatra and Java
