sables are small animals in the weasel family. They have the most valuable fur of all weasels. Sables live in eastern Russia, Siberia, and Mongolia, and on the island of Hokkaido in Japan. They are closely related to North American animals called pine martens. Sables are about 20 inches(51 centimeters) long. Their fur can be dark brown or almost black, with a yellowish patch on the throat. Sables do not turn white in winter, as some animals do. Sables fur is used in some of the world's most expensive clothing. trappers have killed so many sables that they are rare almost everywhere today.