Are there two species of Pine Marten in North America?

    The American pine marten is currently considered a single species (Martes americana) that comprises a number of morphologically differentiated subspecies across North America. Two distinct subgroups are recognized: the "americana" group from eastern North America and the "caurina" group from the Pacific Northwest and the Great Plains.  These groups were formerly recognized as distinct species, but after Wright (1953) identified morphological intermediates in areas of sympatry, the two forms have been considered a single species.  Examination of mitochondrial cytochrome b DNA sequences identifies two genetically distinct clades whose geographic distributions correspond to the subspecies groups (Carr & Hicks 1997). The genetic analysis supports the hypothesis that the two North American subspecies groups should once again be considered two distinct species: Martes americana (Turton, 1806) and Martes caurina (Merriam, 1890), respectively.

    Phylogenetic analysis of holarctic Martes, including the two American groups, European pine marten (M. martes), Eurasian sable (M. zibellina), Japanese pine marten (M. melampus), and North American fisher (M. pennanti) together with data from Hosoda et al. (1997) on the yellow- throated marten (M. flavigula) indicates the monophyly of  three component subgenera: Pekania (= M. pennanti), Charronia (= M. flavigula), and Martes (all other extant species), with the first being the sister group to the latter two. Martes is of relatively young (early Pliocene) origin. Endemic nearctic fishers and martens represent separate invasions of the New World.


All text material © 2001 by Steven M. Carr