Bobak marmot
Steppe marmot ( Marmota bobak )
The steppe marmot ( Marmota bobak ) is a species of the family of squirrels. The distribution area of the steppe marmot includes the steppes in Eastern Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, North and Central Kazakhstan. The distribution is strongly shrunk in recent decades, as the agricultural use of the steppes has increased and the groundhog is a Kulturflüchter. The European populations are found in the Strelezker steppe and in the Derkulsteppe in the district of Kharkov and the stone steppe in the district of Voronezh. Within the genus of the steppe marmot marmots has extra long front limbs. It is therefore specially adapted to a life in which digging burrows plays an essential role. As the steppe marmot habitat uses a very lush herb steppe, it is also found in the forest-steppe.
Two subspecies are distinguished:
- M. b. bobak
- M. b. tschaganensis
See also marmot fur.