Long-Tailed Marmot — Himalayan Rodent & High-Altitude Ecosystem


Scientific Name

Marmota caudata

Characteristics

  • Large rodent belonging to family Sciuridae.

  • Fossorial animal.

  • Lives in burrows.

  • High-altitude Himalayan habitats.

  • Feeds on grasses, roots and other vegetation.

  • Hibernates during winter.

Indian Distribution

Primarily associated with the western Himalayas/Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir region. (Fauna of India)

Ecological Importance

  • Part of alpine food webs.

  • Burrowing influences soil structure.

  • Important prey for Himalayan predators.

Prelims

Long-tailed marmot → Marmota caudata → Himalayan rodent.