Animal Profiles
Mammals

Prairie Dog

Cynomys

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

Prairie dogs are burrowing ground squirrels. This account describes the black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus), a social animal of North American grasslands.

Cynomys ludovicianus (prairie dog)

Representative species: Cynomys ludovicianus.

Christian Ursilva from København, Danmark · CC BY-SA

At a glance

Location
Black-tailed prairie dogs occupy short- and mixed-grass country in central North America. Their colonies require suitable ground for interconnected burrows.
Habitat
Grassland
Diet
Herbivore
Food
Grasses and other low-growing plants supply most meals; insects are occasionally eaten.

Classification

Common name
Prairie Dog
Browse group
Mammals
Scientific name or taxon
Cynomys
Taxon rank
genus
Order
Rodentia
Family
Sciuridae
Genus
Cynomys
Source classification
Mammalia

Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.

Three things to know

  • Its tail has a dark tip.
  • Colonies contain smaller family neighbourhoods.
  • Burrows provide shelter and breeding spaces.

Habitat and range

Black-tailed prairie dogs occupy short- and mixed-grass country in central North America. Their colonies require suitable ground for interconnected burrows.

Appearance and adaptations

A stocky body, short limbs and dark-tipped tail characterize this species. Size and weight vary by sex and season.

Diet and behaviour

Grasses and other low-growing plants supply most meals; insects are occasionally eaten. Colonies can contain many individuals organized into smaller social groups. Much foraging takes place near burrow entrances, where animals can retreat quickly.

Sources

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