BLACK-TAILED PRAIRIE DOG

CHARACTERISTICS: They are animals with a body of somewhat short and stocky appearance, with a short tail covered in brown coloured fur, which is very light or beige around the stomach area. Its head is rather short, with proportionally small ears and large eyes which permit it to detect potential predators, and a flat and short snout in comparison to other rodents. It has long nails.
DIET: They feed on small plants, from which they extract the water needed for their survival.
REPRODUCTION: A male can have from one to three females. The females reach reproductive age at 3 years and have between 3 to 7 offspring. Normally they only become pregnant once a year between January to March and the babies do not leave the litter until after 45 days. In the mating season, the males protect the area around their burrow and only for a short time each year does the male become aggressive with other males.
CURIOSITIES: They probably constitute the most socially developed rodent group. They have a sophisticated system of calls (as many as 11 have been identified) backed up by different body postures. Their burrows have latrines, pantries, crèches, bedrooms... and various exits in the event of emergency.

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