Marmota bobak 273distribution: M. bobak is found on the steppes of eastern
Europe, from Ukraine and Russia to northern and central
Kazakhstan. It was introduced to the Caucasus Mountains
(Dagestan, Russia).
geographic variation: Three subspecies are recognized.
M. b. bobak—western portion of the range, through the
Volga River. This form has a generally darker coloration
on the body and head.
M. b. kozlovi—fragmented central portion of the range, near
Ulyanovsk (Russia). A description in English of this sub-
species is not available to the authors. It was described
by Fokanov.
M. b. tschaganensis—eastern portion of the range. This form
has a generally light straw yellow coloration.
conservation: IUCN status—least concern. Population
trend—stable.
habitat: Bobak marmots are found in a variety of steppe
habitats, including lowland, mixed grass, arid, and worm-
wood (Artemisia) steppes. Relative to other marmots, M. bo-
bak thrive in rolling plains, grasslands, and on the periphery
of cultivated fi elds.
natural history: This species is diurnal. Bobak marmots
hibernate in social groups in burrows for six to seven months.
Burrows are complex, and they may be up to 4–5 m deep; they
are recognizable by the pronounced mounds of excavated soil
surrounding the entrance. About 60 percent of females pro-
duce litters of four to seven young in late spring or early sum-
mer; the young delay dispersal until their third year, when
sexual maturity occurs. M. bobak forms colonies of several
families, with a dominant male and adult female, 2–year-old
and 1–year-old off spring, and young-of-the-year as the funda-
mental unit; however, social groups may be unstable, espe-
cially in areas with considerable human infl uence. Bobak
marmots feed on green forbs, bulbs, fl owers, and grass shoots.
Much like prairie dogs (Cynomys) in North America, bobak
marmots sit on their haunches in an alert posture and pro-
duce a single alarm call in response to threats. A variety of
oral and cheek secretions are used by adults to scent-mark
burrow entrances, mounds, and other structures. M. bobak
may live to be 7.4 years old in captivity. Bobak marmots are
hunted for food and pelts, and they have been a staple food
for humans during periods of famine.general references: Nikol’skii 2009; Nikol’skii and Sav-
chenko 1999.Marmota bobak. Photo courtesy Sergey Levykin and Grigoriy
Kazachkov.