Newfoundland Pine Marten

Newfoundland
Conservation status
Threatened (COSEWIC)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Mustelidae
Genus:	Martes
Species:	M. americana
Trinomial name
Martes americana atrata (Bangs, 1897) [1]

The Newfoundland Pine Marten (Martes americana atrata) is a genetically distinct subspecies of the American Marten (Martes americana) found only on the island of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada; it is sometimes referred to as the American Marten (Newfoundland Population) and is one of only 14 species native to the island. The Newfoundland Pine Marten is similar in appearance to its continental cousin, but is slightly larger, with darker fur. The Newfoundland subspecies is also observed to inhabit a wider range of forest types than its mainland counterparts. The Newfoundland Pine Marten is currently found in suitable pockets of mature forest habitat, on the west coast of Newfoundland and in and around Terra Nova National Park.^[2]

Status

The Newfoundland Marten is considered to be endangered and is protected in Canada under the Species at Risk Act (SARA), the Canada National Parks Act, and the Newfoundland and Labrador Endangered Species Act. The animal was first designated as Threatened in 1986, and was redesignated as Endangered in 1996 and 2000, with an estimated population of 300. The current population of the species is estimated at between approximately 400 and 850 animals, as of April 2007. COSEWIC re-evaluated the species in April 2007, and changed the designation to Threatened.^[3]

In 1996, a captive breeding program was started at the Salmonier Nature Park, near St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, producing litters in 1999 and 2002; this program has since ceased. ^[3] In 1999, four captive-breed martens were released to the wild near Terra Nova National Park.^[2]

References

1. ^ "Martes americana atrata". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=727087. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "American Marten Newfoundland population". Species at Risk Public Registry. Environment Canada. January 11, 2010. http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/species/speciesDetails_e.cfm?sid=134. Retrieved January 31, 2010. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "COSEWIC Assessment and Update Status Report on the American Marten (Newfoundland population)". Government of Canada. http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/virtual_sara/files/cosewic/sr%5Fmartes%5Famericana%5Fatrata%5Fe%2Epdf. Retrieved May 21, 2008. 

External links

• Salmonier Nature Park