Yellow-bellied marmot

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yellow-bellied marmot Marmota flavientris

Order Rodentia Rodents

  • Animals with 2 upper & 2 lower incisors and no canines
  • Of all mammals, has the most number of worldwide species

Family Sciuridae Squirrel Family (tail always completely haired)

Subfamily Sciurinae  Marmots, ground squirrels, chipmunks, & tree squirrels

  • Tail usually bushy
  • 4 toes on front feet, 5 toes on hind feet
  • Internal cheek pouches in ground squirrels & chipmunks)

Yellow-bellied marmot 1 of 4 species of marmots in Pacific NW & Canada Largest members of squirrel family.

Description:

  • No internal cheek pouches.
  • Do not cache food; instead store as layers of body fat
  • Dormant for much of the year (depends on elevation & location) with summer and winter hibernation
  • Herbivores: green forbs and grasses.
  • Eaten by badgers, coyotes, eagles, owls, and hawks.
yellow bellied marmot

Photo by: Leslie Bigos

yellow bellied marmot

Photo by: Leslie Bigos

marmot

Whitish patch in front
of eyes behind a
broad dark band

marmot

Back: yellowishgrizzly
brown, with
white-tipped guard
hairs.