Sable

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The sable, a small quadruped, closely akin to the martens, and known by the zoological names of Martes zibellina or Mustela zibellina, originated in Siberia and has achieved fame for its fur. Sables range in color from tan to black, black being the most prized.

Sables are diurnal carnivores, using their sense of smell and hearing to hunt for small prey. They have been observed to hide in their dens for days during periods such as snow storms, or when they are being hunted by humans. In the wild they are potentially vicious; although there are "domesticated" sables who have been described as playful, curious, and even "tame" (if taken from their mother at a young age). They are mostly terrestrial, hunting and constructing dens on the forest floor. They feed on chipmunks, squirrels, mice, small birds and fish. When primary sources are scarce they eat berries, vegetation, and pine nuts. When weather conditions are extreme they will store their prey in their den.

The name sable appears to be Slavonic in origin: compare Russian sobol, whence various languages have adapted the term, compare German Zobel, Dutch Sabel; the Modern French zibelline and Mediaeval Latin zibellina derive from the Italian form. The English and Mediaeval Latin word sabellum comes from the Old French sable or saible.

Original text from 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica.

The sable's black fur has given heraldry the term sable, meaning the colour black. See tincture (heraldry).

da:Zobel de:Zobel (Marder) eo:Zibelo ru:Соболь