# Yellow-bellied Marmot (*Marmota flaviventris*) The Yellow-bellied Marmot is a fluffy animal with a bright yellow belly! They love to sunbathe on rocks and make loud whistles to talk to each other. These friendly creatures live in the mountains and are fun to watch. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 37 - **Habitat:** Mountain regions ![Yellow-bellied Marmot](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Marmot-edit1.jpg&width=800) Photo: Original: Inklein ( talk · contribs ) Derivative work: jjron ( talk · contribs ), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Marmot-edit1.jpg) ## Appearance The Yellow-bellied Marmot has coarse, reddish-brown to grayish fur on its back, a distinct yellow to reddish-orange belly, and a pale snout. It has small, rounded ears and a bushy tail, making it look like a large ground squirrel. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Rodentia - **Family:** Sciuridae - **Genus:** Marmota ## Interesting facts - Marmots clean their burrows like messy kids, kicking out old dirt! - These mountain dwellers sometimes live high up, where trees can't even grow! - They often greet each other with a nose-to-nose rub, like a secret handshake! - Yellow-bellied marmots pack on weight in summer, preparing for a long winter nap! ## Special abilities - **Epic Hibernation:** Yellow-bellied Marmot has an incredible ability to hibernate for up to eight months, surviving winter by slowing its body functions. - **Expert Burrow Architect:** Yellow-bellied Marmot can dig extensive burrows with multiple entrances, providing safe homes and escape routes from predators. - **Sun-Powered Energy Boost:** Yellow-bellied Marmot can sunbathe on rocks to warm up quickly, helping them conserve energy after cold nights or hibernation. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 47-70 cm - **Weight:** 2-5.2 kg - **Lifespan:** 8-15 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Litter Size:** 3-8 - **Gestation:** 30-32 days ## Diet & Feeding These furry foragers enjoy a plant-based diet, munching on tasty leaves, flowers, and grasses. - **Primary Foods:** grasses, wildflowers, seeds, berries, lichens - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Golden Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/golden-eagle) (*Aquila chrysaetos*) — Hunted from above by this powerful bird of prey. - **Eaten by:** [Coyote](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coyote) (*Canis latrans*) — A common predator that often hunts marmots on open ground. - **Eaten by:** Mountain Lion (*Puma concolor*) — Large predator that sometimes ambushes marmots near their burrows. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Burrowing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/burrowing): Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. - [Hibernating](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/hibernating): Hibernating animals enter a state of metabolic depression during cold periods or when food is scarce, characterized by reduced body temperature and activity. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch from a distance and don't try to touch wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Yellow-bellied Marmot? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Yellow-bellied Marmot? 47-70 cm ### How much does Yellow-bellied Marmot weigh? 2-5.2 kg ### How long does Yellow-bellied Marmot live? 8-15 years ### How fast can Yellow-bellied Marmot move? 35 km/h ### What does Yellow-bellied Marmot eat? These furry foragers enjoy a plant-based diet, munching on tasty leaves, flowers, and grasses. ### Where is Yellow-bellied Marmot usually found? Mountain regions ### How does Yellow-bellied Marmot hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [North Entrance Road Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/north-entrance-road-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District - [P Ranch](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/p-ranch) — Oregon, US · Historic Site - [Rim Village Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rim-village-historic-district) — Oregon, US · Historic District - [Bromley Rock Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bromley-rock-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Betty Ford Alpine Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/betty-ford-alpine-gardens) — Colorado, US · Botanical Garden - [Echo Lake Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/echo-lake-park) — Colorado, US · Natural Landmark [View all places to see Yellow-bellied Marmot](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/yellow-bellied-marmot) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Yellow-bellied Marmot: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-bellied-marmot)