One of the most widely distributed small carnivores in Europe and Asia, the marbled polecat (Vormela peregusna) is a small mustelid with a short muzzle and short, strong limbs with long claws. It is strikingly patterned, with the reddish-brown fur on its back being mottled with irregular lines and patches of yellowish fur.

The limbs and underparts of the marbled polecat are dark brown or blackish, and its head is dark brown with a white band across the forehead. It has a long, hairy tail, which is dark brown with a yellowish band in the middle, and ends in a black tip. The ears of this species are large, rounded and white.

During the breeding season the male marbled polecat undergoes a colour change, with the patches of yellow fur changing to bright orange.