The prairie dog belongs to a group of species of the genus Cynomys , to the Marmotini tribe and to the same family of squirrels called Sciuridae . Its peculiar name was put in reference to its vocalizations that sometimes resemble the barking of a dog .
All the species of prairie dog that are found in freedom are located in North America and live in areas with quite extreme climates where the high temperatures reach 38º and the lowest temperatures reach -37º. Their habitats are grasslands, meadows and plateaus where they can create their burrows. Their tunnels can be 5 to 10 meters in size!
One of the reasons that makes this animal adorable is its body. The prairie dog has short legs and a plump body about 40 centimeters in length. And, in addition, it does not usually weigh more than one and a half kilograms. His eyes and nose are small and his hair is short, soft and earthy in color that helps him camouflage himself more easily. As in many species, there is sexual dimorphism , that is, females and males have different sizes because their diet is also different: males eat much more.
Prairie dogs are herbivores therefore their diet is based on fresh grass, seeds, nuts, fruits and other small plants. If you have one of these pet animals, we recommend giving them quality timothy grass hay. It will be beneficial for your pet.
These rodents are diurnal and very sociable, living in numerous groups made up of between 15 and 25 relatives that interact with each other by physical contact by stroking their snouts. However, the most interesting thing about them is their advanced oral communication system to inform at great distances that a predator is approaching. Their different vocalizations are able to relate to their species the type of animal that is approaching, its size and how far it is from their colony.
If you still want to know more, keep reading because here are 15 curiosities about prairie dogs.
