Bobak marmot

The bobac marmot or steppe marmot (Marmota bobak) is a species of sciuromorphic rodent. the Sciuridae family that lives in the steppes of Ukraine, Russia and Central Asia. Its name comes from baibak, the word by which it is known in its place of origin.

Distribution

It is the only marmot present in Europe along with the Alpine marmot (Marmota marmota). Once widely spread (reaching as far as eastern Siberia and the limits of Manchuria), today it is reduced to various isolated populations in protected areas, the result of intense clearing of its natural habitat and indiscriminate hunting. It lives in both flat areas and the mountain ranges of the Urals, Hindu Kush and Himalayas, and the Tibet plateau.

Features

It is a species of small size and more graceful shapes than other marmots. The body measures 58 centimeters to which 14.5 centimeters are added for the tail. The fur is short and earth-colored, to camouflage with the environment.

Natural history

It is a social animal that lives in family groups. These inhabit a burrow used for generations, which can be up to 100 meters long and have up to three different entrances, in order to quickly access the safety of its interior if any threat appears in the surrounding areas. The depth of the galleries can reach 4 meters, leading to different hibernation and breeding chambers that are connected to each other underground. In case a predator enters it, marmots have thinner tunnels through which they quickly escape to the outside. During hibernation, animals gather in groups of 12 to 15 individuals that huddle together to keep each other warm. They also develop a significant concentration of subcutaneous fat after gorging on food during the three summer months.

Human hunting continues to be the main threat to this species, which is not regulated in the countries where the bobac marmot lives.

Subspecies

Two subspecies of Marmota bobak are known:

• Marmota bobak bobak
• Marmota bobak tschaganensis