Tarbagan Marmot

About the Tarbagan Marmot

The tarbagan marmot (Marmota sibirica) is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. It is found in China (Inner Mongolia and Heilongjiang), northern and western Mongolia, and Russia (southwest Siberia, Tuva, Transbaikalia). In the Mongolian Altai Mountains, its range overlaps with that of the gray marmot. The species was classified as endangered by the IUCN in 2008.

Two subspecies are recognized, M. s. sibirica and M. s. caliginosus. The word "tarbagan" comes from Russian тарбаган (tarbagan), which originates from Proto-Mongolic and denotes specific rodent species; it is related to "targa", the word for beaver in the Ulch and Nanai languages. Other names for the tarbagan marmot include Siberian marmot and Mongolian marmot.

The tarbagan marmot is medium-sized compared to other marmots, with a 0.25 head-to-body ratio. During the summer, its hair is between 11–20 mm and grows up to 30 mm during winter months. Its fur has two separate slate bands, followed by a white band, and its cheeks are yellow. Its zygomatic arches are slightly expanded compared to other marmot species. Populations in western Mongolia tend to have wider skulls compared... Wikipedia →