Common name : Maranai
Scientific name : Martes gwatkinsii
Family : Mustelidae
Native to : Nilgiri mountain range and parts of the Western Ghats, India
Interesting fact : They have been known to raid beehives of farmers and are thus considered a nuisance.
Conservation status : Vulnerable
It is the only species of a marten found in Southern India. They have brown coloured fur, with a yellow or orange throat patch. They spend most of their time in hollows of the Elaeocarpustree, which acts as a shelter, but descend to the ground occasionally. Since they are very rare to spot, very little is known about them.
