Hematological and plasma chemical characteristics in beech marten (Martes foina)

1. The normal values of hematological and clinical-chemical variables in plasma of 21 males and 27 females of beech marten (Martes foina) have been illustrated and compared to corresponding normal values in mink (Mustela vison) and ferret (Mustela putorius). 2. The number of erythrocytes, the hematocrit value, and the hemoglobin concentration were higher in male than in female beech marten. 3. Divergences according to age in the investigated variables have been found. 4. The erythrocytes in beech marten are clearly smaller in size and volume and have a lower mean corpuscular hemoglobin than the erythrocytes in mink and ferret.