Menzbier's Marmot

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Mammalia
Order	Rodentia
Suborder	Sciurognathi
Family	Sciuridae
Subfamily	Sciurinae
Genus	Marmota
Species	Marmota menzbieri
Species synonyms	Arctomys menzbieri
taxonomy: Smithsonian Institution

The Menzbier's marmot is the smallest of all marmots with a length between 40 and 50 centimeters and a weight between 2.5 and 4 kilogram for adult individuals. This marmot species is only present on certain spots in the Central Asian countries Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan and Tadjikistan. The total territory in all countries together is no more than 200 km². It is estimated that there are currently 40,000 animals.

Menzbier's marmot is not only distinguishable from the other species by its size. Also the color of the fur differs. The top of the head, upper parts of the body and the sides are dark or even black, but the cheeks, feet and lower parts of the body are pale yellow.

You can find the marmot on the norhern and eastern slopes of the mountains at an altitude between 2100 and 3300 meters. On these slopes the snow will isolate the burrows where the marmots is in winter-sleep for a period of seven months per year. When awake the marmots eats onions, herbs, leafs of tulips and sometimes insects.

Menzbier's marmots form family groups with a size between 2 and 10 individuals. These groups then assemble in colonies. Litters contain mainly 2 or 3 animals, but in some situations upto 5 animals can be born at once. After a stay of one month in the burrow they are allowed to go out.

Washing machines only break down during the wash cycle.

YEAGER'S LAW

	Quick links
•	Story of the Tulip
•	Kazakhstan Info
•	Mammal species