Gray Marmot

The gray marmot, grey marmot, or Altai marmot (Marmota baibacina) is a species of rodent in the squirrel family Sciuridae. It is one of the larger marmots in the genus Marmota. It occurs in mountainous grasslands and shrub lands of central Asia, and is one of the 9 Palearctic (Eurasia) species. It is found in Xinjiang Province in China, southeastern Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and in the Altai and Tien Shan Mountains in southeastern Siberia in Russia. In the Mongolian Altai, its range overlaps with that of the Tarbagan marmot. Gray marmots form social groups, live in burrows, and hibernate. == Description == Gray marmots are one of the largest palearctic species, weighing 4 to 6.5 kg (9 to 14.5 pounds), with some individuals reaching near 8 kg (18 pounds) before hibernation. Body size varies based on the time of year (before/after hibernation), and with latitude and elevation. Overall, body size increases at higher latitude and elevation and decreases at lower latitudes and elevation. Gray marmots may lose up to 30% of body mass during long seasonal hibernation. They are short and stocky with brawny limbs and short tails. The total body length ranges from about 60 to 80 cm (25…