Common name: Stone Marten
Scientific name: Martes foina
Family: Mustelidae

Size:
Body length: 40–55 cm
Tail length: 20–30 cm
Weight: 1–2.5 kg

Identification:
A slender, agile carnivore with a long body, relatively short legs, and a bushy tail. The fur is usually brown to grey-brown with a distinctive white throat patch extending onto the chest. The ears are rounded and relatively large, while the face appears pointed with dark eyes. Compared to similar martens, the throat patch is broader and brighter.

Habitat:
Forests, rocky hillsides, agricultural areas, villages, and mountain regions. Highly adaptable and often found near human settlements.

Status in Lebanon:
Native and locally common. Widely distributed in mountainous and rural areas.

Diet:
Omnivorous — feeds on rodents, birds, insects, fruits, eggs, and carrion.

Behavior:
Primarily nocturnal and highly agile. Excellent climber and capable hunter. Usually solitary except during breeding season. Uses rock crevices, abandoned structures, and tree cavities as shelter. Known for its curiosity and adaptability to human-altered environments.

Conservation status:
Least Concern (IUCN Red List)