Wildlifeof China
Long-tailed Marmot
Squirrels & Flying Squirrels
Photo: (c) Andrew Bazdyrev, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY
Marmota caudata
Basic stats
Diet
Grasses and other alpine vegetation
Habitat
Alpine meadow, semiarid plateau, and mountain forest edge
Range
Hindu Kush, Karakoram, Tien Shan, and neighboring Central Asian mountains; 1,400–5,500 m
Litter size
Usually 4–5, up to 10
Gestation period
30–35 days
Weight
Approximately 8–9 kg
The long-tailed marmot is a large, solidly built ground squirrel weighing as much as 8–9 kg. Its compact, flexible body is adapted for movement through burrows, with short legs, strong blunt claws, and well-developed toe pads for shifting soil. The flattened head, short neck, small ears, and high-set eyes allow it to watch the surface while remaining close to a burrow entrance. (Animal Diversity Web)
Long-tailed marmots inhabit alpine meadows, semiarid plateaus, and forest margins in the Hindu Kush, Karakoram, Tien Shan, and neighboring Central Asian ranges, from about 1,400 to 5,500 m. They spend winter hibernating underground and breed within the burrow before spring emergence. Grasses and other alpine plants provide their food. After a gestation of 30–35 days, females usually produce four or five young, although litters may contain as many as ten. (Animal Diversity Web)
Quick answers
- What does the Long-tailed Marmot eat?
- Grasses and other alpine vegetation
- What habitat does the Long-tailed Marmot live in?
- Alpine meadow, semiarid plateau, and mountain forest edge
- Where is the Long-tailed Marmot found?
- Hindu Kush, Karakoram, Tien Shan, and neighboring Central Asian mountains; 1,400–5,500 m
- What is the litter size of the Long-tailed Marmot?
- Usually 4–5, up to 10
- How long is the gestation period of the Long-tailed Marmot?
- 30–35 days
- How much does the Long-tailed Marmot weigh?
- Approximately 8–9 kg