Black-tailed Prairie Dogオグロプレーリードッグ
Cynomys ludovicianusLC— Least Concern
The black-tailed prairie dog is a highly social, burrowing rodent of the North American Great Plains, living in family groups called coteries within much larger colonies known as 'towns.' Its sophisticated alarm calls can encode details about an approaching predator's type, size, and speed, and its extensive burrow systems support hundreds of other species as a keystone ecosystem engineer. It is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN.
Black-tailed Prairie Dog (reference photo)
Species Data
- Classification
- Rodentia / Sciuridae Source
- Size
- Head-body length about 30–38 cm, tail about 8–10 cm
- Weight
- Males about 850–1,675 g, females about 705–1,050 g
- Lifespan
- Wild: 3–5 years; captive: 6–10 years
- Diet
- Herbivore Herbivorous, feeding mainly on grasses as well as leaves, stems, and roots; habitually stands on its hind legs and holds grass in its forepaws to eat
- Activity
- Diurnal; does not fully hibernate in winter but enters a state of torpor
- Distribution
- Black-tailed prairie dogs are native to the Great Plains of North America, historically ranging from Saskatchewan and Alberta in Canada to Chihuahua, Mexico. Source
Did You Know?
- Black-tailed prairie dogs live in family units called 'coteries,' typically one male with several females and their offspring, and dig extensive underground tunnel systems. Source
- Their alarm calls, which sound like dog-like barks, encode specific information about the type, size, and approach speed of a predator, according to research. Source
- A historic prairie dog 'town' in Texas reportedly covered about 25,000 square miles and held an estimated 400 million individuals. As a keystone species, hundreds of other vertebrate and invertebrate species depend on prairie dog colonies for food and shelter. Source
Where to See This Species
Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 7
Gokatsuraike Animal ParkMieAbout 10 minutes from the Seiwa-Taki Interchange.
Izu Shaboten ZooShizuokaOpened in 1959
SHIZEN ZOOTokyoAbout a 15-minute walk from the north exit of Nishi-Kasai Station on the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line, or about a 20-minute walk from the south exit of Funabori Station on the Toei Shinjuku Line.
Saitamakenkodomodoubutsu Shizen KouenSaitamaOpened in 1980
Chiba Zoological ParkChibaOpened in 1985
Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical GardensAichiOpened in 1937
Source links to official sites, official YouTube channels, and news aggregators such as Zoo Ring. Visit the publisher for the full item.
Conservation Story
Conservation Status
Least Concern (LC)
Sources
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FAQ
- How big can a prairie dog town get?
- Historically enormous — one reported colony in Texas covered roughly 25,000 square miles and was estimated to hold about 400 million prairie dogs. Source
- Do prairie dogs really 'talk' to each other?
- Their alarm calls are remarkably sophisticated, encoding specific information about a predator's type, size, and how fast it is approaching. Source
- Why are prairie dogs considered a keystone species?
- Their burrow systems and grazing shape the grassland ecosystem, and hundreds of other vertebrate and invertebrate species rely on prairie dog colonies for food, nesting, and shelter. Source
- How many operating facilities are registered here?
- Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 7 Source
Books & gear
Source: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org