Long-Tailed Marmot

Key Takeaways

Introduction

The long-tailed marmot, which is sometimes called the golden marmot, is an interesting animal that is part of the Sciuridae family. This species is known for its distinctive long tail.

Physical Characteristics

The long-tailed marmot is a big, sturdy rodent that can weigh up to 9 kg (19,8 lbs). They usually weigh between 1.5 kg (3,3 lbs) and 7.3 kg (16 lbs), with the lower weights in the spring right after they wake up from their hibernation and the higher weights in the fall right before hibernation for the winter, when more than a quarter of their weight can be fat. Male marmots are usually a little bigger than females.

The length of their body and head is between 37 and 80 cm (14,6 and 31,5 in), and their tail is about 16 to 28 cm (6,3 to 11 in) long. The tail is 37 to 55% of the length of their body and head.

Distribution

Long-tailed marmot can be found in several countries including Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, southern Kazakhstan (where it’s rare), Uzbekistan, northern Pakistan, northwestern India and western China. In China, it’s only been spotted in the Tian Shan Mountains of Xinjiang. This marmot also lives in other mountain ranges such as the Pamir, Alay, Hindukush, Kunlun-Shan, Karakoram and northwestern Himalayas.

Habitat

The long-tailed marmot lives at a wide range of heights, from 600 to 5,200 meters (2,000–17,100 feet), but this can change a lot depending on the mountain range. The highest they go is usually where the permanent snow line meet.

The long-tailed marmot can be found in many different open or lightly wooded areas, like alpine meadows, steppes in the foothills to highlands, semi-deserts, scrublands and open woodland (usually with junipers that are no more than 4 meters or 13 feet high), especially in rocky areas. However, they don’t like places with saline soils.

Behavior

The long-tailed marmot usually forms monogamous relationships and live in big groups up to seven adults. These marmots are often related, and the younger ones usually stick around until they’re about three years age and fully grown.

Their home is about 3 hectares (7.5 acres) and they have about 3 burrow systems (range from 1 to 6).

These marmots are active during the day, especially in the morning. That’s when they spend 40% their time looking for food. Once they leave their burrow, they each go their own way to find food. They pick up food from the ground or sometimes even pluck it from taller plants.

Diet and Predators

The long-tailed marmot’s diet consists mainly of plant material, making it a folivore and herbivore. Predators of the long-tailed marmot include:

• Red fox
• Grey wolf
• Golden eagle
• Bearded vulture

Hibernation

The long-tailed marmot hibernates on period when the ground is always covered in snow. From around the time when leaves start to fall in September, all the way until flowers begin to bloom in April or May.

Reproduction

In the world of long-tailed marmots, mating is around the end of April and the start of May. This usually happens underground, before they’ve even come out from their burrows after winter. After about four and a half weeks, a female marmot gives birth to around four babies, known as pups.

Life can be tough for pups. Only about half of them make it through their first summer. Some are eaten by predators, while others might be hurt by adult males who join their group.

Most of the grown-up marmots make it through the winter sleep, but more of the young ones might not survive their first winter. The female marmots usually wait until they’re four years age before they have babies of their own.

Conservation Status

The Long-tailed Marmot is classified as “Least Concern” on The IUCN Red List.

References:

1. Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-tailed_marmot
2. Animaliabio: https://animalia.bio/long-tailed-marmot