Squirrels of the World

Marmota menzbieri 283

females in the family group, again reducing the genetic di-
versity of the group.
Gestation is 33–34 days, after which a litter of two to four
young is produced. Adult females rarely reproduce in succes-
sive years, so only about 50 percent of them produce a litter
in a given year. Female reproductive success is positively cor-
related with body condition and experience. The social sys-
tem of M. marmota is one based on family groups consisting
of an adult male, an adult female, and young less than 3 years
of age within a territory. Juveniles overwinter in the natal
area, and older male off spring assist their younger siblings
with social thermoregulation; this benefi t from male off -
spring may be the reason for a male-biased sex ratio in some
populations. Males and many females disperse in their third
year; however, inbreeding is known to occur, with sons mat-
ing with their mothers when dispersal is delayed. Behaviors
such as greeting, allogrooming, and other physical contacts
are predominantly amicable between social-group members,
and nongroup members are aggressively chased. Immigrant
adult males that assume control of a social group kill juve-
niles. The survival rate of juveniles is high, averaging 50–
65 percent, whereas annual adult survival typically ranges
from 50–90 percent; no sex diff erences are evident in survi-
vorship. The majority of the losses occur during hibernation.
This species’ principal predators are canids and large raptors.
Individuals are frequently observed foraging in open subal-
pine and alpine meadows for grasses, forbs, fl owers, and
bulbs. Communication is most often visual and auditory. Ol-
factory communication through scent-marking on structures
and burrows is apparently used to mark territories. The ani-
mals survey their surroundings when standing on their
haunches, and they produce two alarm calls: a common
whistle and a descending whistle. The common whistle be-
comes more frequent as the perceived risk increases. In some
countries Alpine marmots are game animals and are occa-

sionally hunted for food; they are also harvested for their

pelts and their fats/oil (for medicinal purposes).

general references: Arnold 1988; Cohas et al. 2008;

Hacklander et al. 2003; W. J. King and Allaine 2002; Mann et

al. 1993.

Marmota menzbieri (Kashkarov, 1925)

Menzbier’s Marmot

description: Menzbier’s marmot has a straw- to tan-

colored dorsum with a frosting of dark brown to black. The

venter is cream to buff to tan; this coloration is prominent

on the front limbs and extends to the cheek. The head is

light to dark brown, sometimes with a buff patch on the

snout and the chin. The tail is straw to light brown at the

base with a dark brown to black tip.

size: Both sexes—HB 490 mm; T 120 mm; Mass 3000–

4000 g.

distribution: This marmot is found in the western Tien

Shan Mountains in southern Kazakhstan, western Kyrgyz-

stan, and northeastern Uzbekistan. Its range is extremely

restricted (200 km^2 ).

geographic variation: Two subspecies are recognized.

Marmota marmota. Photo courtesy Kenneth B. Armitage.