Tarbagan Marmot

The Tarbagan marmot is a stout-bodied, short-limbed rodent measuring 50–60 cm and weighing 6–8 kg. Its fine, medium-length coat is generally brown, changing from light grayish-brown in spring to reddish-brown by late autumn. The muzzle, eye region, and bushy tail are darker, while the ears are light orange-brown. Males have substantially larger mandibles than females, producing pronounced skeletal sexual dimorphism. The tail is approximately half the body’s length. (Animal Diversity Web)

Tarbagan marmots inhabit grasslands, shrublands, open and mountain steppes, alpine meadows, forest-steppe, semi-deserts, slopes, river basins, and valleys between roughly 600 and 3,800 m. Their range centers on Mongolia and extends into northeastern China and Russia. They live in territorial extended-family colonies and hibernate in sealed burrows during autumn and winter. Breeding generally occurs in April; gestation lasts 40–42 days, and litters contain four to eight young. They graze on available vegetation and are especially active during the forenoon. (Animal Diversity Web)