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Alpine marmot
The fur color of alpine marmots is a mixture of blonde to reddish to
dark gray. Their bodies are plump and sturdy and stand at a height
of 18cm. Body mass changes drastically from season to season. Before
hibernation in the fall, the average weight of males is 4540g and
that of females is 4355g. In the springtime, the average weight of
males is 3000g and females is 2900g. Specialized for digging, the
thumb of an alpine marmot has a nail on it while all other digits
have claws.
Reproduction
Marmota marmota mates within the first few days after emergence from
hibernation, which occurs in May. Reproducing is not necessarily
annual and depends on the weight of the dominant female of a group
(as she is the only female to reproduce) after hibernation.
Gestation takes approximately 33-34 days. Litters range in number of
young from one to seven, each weighing in around 29g at birth. Hair
begins to grow after 5 days and eyes open around the 23rd day. After
birth, the young are hidden in burrows by their mother and do not
exit until they are weaned (around 40 days old). Young become
sexually mature around 2 years of age. The life span of an alpine
marmot is expected to be between 15 and 18 years.
Behavior
Alpine marmots are well known for their friendly dispositions.
Marmota marmota lives in monogamous family groups consisting of a
parental breeding pair and many of their offspring (usually 15-20
individuals). Young are very playful and all ages engage in nose to
nose greetings. They care for each other by grooming. Alpine marmots
also have a social system wherein one individual sits and looks
around as if on "guard-duty". If any enemies are spotted the "guard"
will warn the colony with a high-pitched whistle. Although alpine
marmots are friendly within their families, they become hostile when
a stranger enters their territory. The female is particularly
ferocious when it comes to guarding her territory.
An alpine marmot marks its territory by smearing a secretion from
its cheek glands onto rocks and trees. Anal glands emit a
foul-smelling substance used during fights.
Home base for alpine marmots is an underground burrow, which is
passed down through many generations of a single family. In these
burrows are 8-10ft tunnels which lead to a big room called a den,
where the whole family hibernates during winter months.
Alpine marmots spend all spring and summer getting as fat as they
can in preparation for winter. Around October, these animals enter
their burrow and close the entrance with hay and grass. When
hibernating their temperature drops from 97 degrees Fahrenheit to 5
degrees Fahrenheit. Breathing slows to 2-3 breathes per minute. Adult
temperatures are warmer than their young, so parents and older
offspring control the temperature of the young by cuddling close to
them. Thermoregulation also benefits adults by helping them to
conserve their own energy. About once every 10 days the den
occupants will wake up for a short while. This waking brings up
their temperature and keeps them from freezing.
Food Habits
Alpine marmots are herbivorous, eating mostly leaves and blossoms.
Because they don't spend much time chewing, M. marmota prefers
softer stalks in order to ease digestion. Like many rodents, alpine
marmots are able to eat plants that would poison other mammals. In
captivity they should be offered a complete diet of rodent lab blocks, and rat or mouse
mix, with bits of fruit or veggies regularly. Cheerios or wheat
bread are great treats, in small quantities. Do NOT feed chocolate,
fried foods, salted foods, candy or junk food! They may enjoy
crickets and mealworms if they are captive bred, never feed wild
insects as they may carry parasites. Vitamins, like Nutri-Cal are a good addition to their diet, and added calcium
during nursing and growth due to demands on their systems at those
times, but take care not to overdo it. Water bottles should be used
to proved constant, clean water. Ceramic or stoneware food dishes
work well for keeping seeds or fresh foods off the floor, and a wire
mesh hopper that allows them to eat the lab blocks through without
extra waste.
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