About Marmota marmota (Linnaeus, 1758)
Scientific Nomenclature
The scientific name of the alpine marmot is Marmota marmota (Linnaeus, 1758).
Body Length Measurements
An adult alpine marmot has a head-and-body length between 43 and 73 cm (17–29 in), and a tail length between 13 and 20 cm (5–8 in).
Body Mass Range
Its body mass ranges from 1.9 to 8 kg (4.2–17.6 lb). Individuals are significantly lighter in spring immediately after hibernation than they are in autumn just before hibernation.
Size Ranking Among Squirrels
The alpine marmot is sometimes considered the heaviest squirrel species. However, several other marmot species have a similar weight range, so it is unclear which species is actually the largest.
Coat Coloration
Its coat is made up of a mixture of blonde, reddish, and dark gray fur.
Limb Claw and Nail Features
Most of the alpine marmot's fingers have claws, but its thumbs have nails.
Native Geographic Range
As its common name suggests, the alpine marmot’s native range covers the European Alps, across alpine areas of France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Austria.
Introduced Populations
It has also been introduced to other locations, with established subpopulations in the Pyrenees, France’s Massif Central, the Jura, the Vosges, the Black Forest, the Apennine Mountains, and the Romanian Carpathians.
Endemic Subspecies Information
The Tatra marmot, Marmota marmota latirostris Kratochvíl, 1961, is an endemic subspecies of alpine marmot that originated during the Quaternary period. Tatra marmots live in the Tatry Mountains and Nízke Tatry Mountains.
Population Status
Alpine marmots have an abundant core population; for example, the population in the Romanian Carpathians is estimated at 1,500 individuals.
Preferred Habitat
Alpine marmots prefer alpine meadows and high-altitude pastures, where colonies live in deep burrow systems located in alluvial soil or rocky areas.
Resting Behavior
Alpine marmots are often observed resting on flat rocks in behavior commonly mistaken for sun bathing; this behavior is actually thought to be cooling, and may also help the marmots deal with parasites.
Temperature Sensitivity and Threats
The species is temperature sensitive, and rising temperatures can lead to overall habitat loss for alpine marmots.
