Tarbagan Marmot

The tarbagan marmot is a stocky, burrowing ground squirrel of the Mongolian and neighbouring steppes. It has a broad head, small ears, powerful forefeet and a short bushy tail. The coat is sandy to grey-brown with darker guard hairs over the back and crown; the muzzle and cheeks are often paler. Its heavy build and short tail distinguish it readily from the slimmer, striped ground squirrels that may forage nearby. (Wikipedia, tarbagan marmot account)

Tarbagan marmots live in colonies on grassland and mountain steppe, where connected burrows provide refuge, nursery chambers and winter quarters. They forage by day on grasses, herbs and other vegetation, with one animal often watching while others feed. Families retreat underground for a long communal hibernation when winter closes the growing season. The species occurs extensively in Mongolia, but the opened general account did not support a precise visitor locality or local seasonal dates, so none is supplied. (Wikipedia, tarbagan marmot account)