282 Marmota kastschenkoipeas, but this behavior is extremely rare and localized; this
species is not considered to be a pest on any signifi cant
scale. Human hunting of M. kastschenkoi for food appears
to be a signifi cant threat in some localities, as this species
is declining within its range. Forest steppe marmots may
serve as a fl agship species for preservation of the forest steppe
within western Siberia.
general references: Armitage 2009; Brandler 2003;
Brandler et al. 2008; Galkina et al. 2005; Polyakov 2005;
Polyakov and Baranova 2007; Skalon and Gagina 2006.
Marmota marmota (Linnaeus, 1758)
Alpine Marmot
description: A lpine ma rmots have a highly va riable color-
ation. The dorsum ranges from a grizzled tan to brown to
russet; the venter is not grizzled and is paler in color, rang-
ing from white to yellow to orange. The ventral coloration
can extend up the sides to form a light-colored saddle on the
back. The head is tan to dark brown, with the coloration
extending to the shoulders. There is a white to cream patch
around the snout and the chin. The tail is typically paler at
the base and darkens to a charcoal tip. Albinism has also
been documented.
size: HB 500–600 mm; T 150 mm; Mass 2500–5000 g.
distribution: This marmot is found in the Alps of France,
Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Austria, and Slovenia; the
Tatra Mountains (Slovakia and Poland), and the Carpath-
ian Mountains (Romania). It was introduced into the
French Pyrenees, eastern Austria, northern Serbia, and
Montenegro.geographic variation: Two subspecies are recognized.M. m. marmota—the most widespread form, found through-
out the western Alps. It is the source for the vast major-
ity of translocations and reintroductions, such as into
Romania.
M. m. latirostris—isolated form in the High Tatra Mountains
of Slovakia and Poland. There is minimal external dis-
tinction between the subspecies.conservation: IUCN status—least concern. Population
trend—stable. M. m. latirostris is found in a restricted range
and is considered rare and threatened.habitat: Alpine marmots typically inhabit alpine mead-
ows and high-elevation pastures, most frequently on south-
facing slopes at elevations of 1200–3000 m.natural history: Alpine marmots are diurnal. They hi-
bernate in social family groups for six to seven months in
burrows, immerging and plugging the burrows by late Sep-
tember. Burrow systems are extensive and complex, 3–10 m
in length, often with several entrances leading to a terminal
nest chamber 1–2 m belowground. Conspicuous trails often
connect the burrow entrances, due to their frequent use
during the growing season. Escape burrows that provide
only short-term cover are short and less complex, with just
a single entrance. Mating occurs around the time of emer-
gence, in late April or early May. These marmots are socially
monogamous; however 30–33 percent of the litters are the
product of extra-pair matings, resulting in the young from
those litters being of mixed parentage. Most often the extra-
pair young can be attributed to a sire outside the social
group. Extra-pair matings are most likely when the male is
genetically diff erent from the female, and the young from
such matings have a greater chance of survival and repro-
duction than young sired within the pair. Dispersal by M.
marmota is costly, because mortality increases and the likeli-
hood of locating a vacancy decreases with distance. By de-
laying dispersal, 12–22 percent of the subordinates are able
to become dominant in their natal area, with another 50 per-
cent becoming dominant nearby; this leads, however, to a
pattern of increased levels of inbreeding. Moreover, the
dominant adult female suppresses the reproduction of other