Marmota

Marmota is a genus of large ground squirrel commonly called marmots, containing fifteen species found across Asia, Europe and North America. Marmots are the heaviest and largest members of the squirrel family, with short, robust legs, enlarged digging claws, stout bodies and large heads with prominent incisors. Body length typically ranges from 42 to 72 centimeters, with spring weights around two kilograms in smaller species and autumn weights reaching eight kilograms or occasionally more than eleven kilograms in larger species. Marmots are herbivorous, highly social, and communicate with loud whistles, particularly when alarmed. They are active during summer and hibernate underground through winter, and are considered the largest true hibernators under the traditional definition of hibernation. Fur coloring varies with habitat, with paler tones in species from open country and darker coloring in forest dwelling species.