Woodchuck

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Woodchuck
Woodchuck

Woodchuck

Systematics
Subordination : Squirrel relatives (Sciuromorpha)
Family : Squirrel (Sciuridae)
Subfamily : Ground Squirrel (Xerinae)
Tribe : Real ground squirrels (Marmotini)
Genre : Marmots ( marmota )
Type : Woodchuck
Scientific name
Marmota monax
( Linnaeus , 1758)

The woodchuck ( Marmota monax , English Groundhog or Woodchuck or Whistle-pig ) is a rodent from the squirrel family . Like the alpine marmot found in Europe, it belongs to the genus of marmots .

features

Woodchucks are usually between 40 and 65 cm long (with the tail about 15 cm long) and weigh between two and four kg. In areas with few enemies and a large supply of food, they can grow up to 80 cm long and weigh up to 14 kg. They have a life expectancy of up to six years in the wild and up to ten years in captivity.

distribution

Distribution area of ​​the woodchuck

While other species of marmots live in rocky and mountainous areas, the woodchuck is a lowland dweller. It is widespread in North America (see map).

habitat

Contrary to what the German name suggests, the woodchuck lives more in open spaces and near the edges of the forest than in the forest. It is one of the few species that has increased in population since the arrival of European settlers in North America, as the logging of the forests has made it a more comfortable habitat . As a result of its wide distribution, the animal is known to many people in the USA and Canada ; it also lives on the edge of urban settlements.

Way of life

Woodchuck on Peyto Lake

Woodchucks are excellent cave builders. They use their burrows to sleep, to raise the young and to hibernate . The structures usually have two entrances, and the woodchuck seldom strays far from either of them outdoors. While it usually flees from potential predators outdoors, it vehemently defends its den against invading enemies such as skunks , foxes , martens and domestic dogs . With its two large incisor teeth and the claws of the forelegs, it can defend itself effectively, especially if the attacker is hindered by the narrowness of the burrow. The woodchuck usually hangs out on the ground, but can climb trees and are good swimmers.

When building its cave, the woodchuck moves an average of 1 m³ of earth with a weight of around 1320 kg.

Woodchucks are usually sexually mature after the second hibernation; a small percentage is already sexually mature after the first hibernation. The mating season begins after wintering in March / April. After about four to five weeks of gestation , two to six naked, blind, deaf and toothless young are placed. The couple stays together until the cubs are born, after which the male leaves the den. The young are suckled for five to six weeks, after which they leave the mother's den to find their own den.

Systematics

The woodchuck is classified as an independent species within the genus of the marmots ( Marmota ), which consists of fourteen species. The first scientific description comes from Carl von Linné , who described the species in 1758 in the 10th edition of his Systema naturae under the name Mus monax as a type of mouse . Linnaeus stated "in America septentrionalis" as the place of origin, Oldfield Thomas narrowed this to Maryland in 1911 . The species is classified within the marmots in the subgenus Marmota .

Remarkable

Woodchuck

In many places in the USA and Canada, the so-called Groundhog Day is celebrated, which became known in Europe primarily through the film of the same name with Bill Murray (German film title: “ Groundhog greets every day ”).

The English name Woodchuck gives rise to use in English tongue twisters - for example "How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?" A woodchuck would chuck as much wood as a woodchuck could chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood. ”(For example:“ How much wood would a Woodchuck chop if a Woodchuck could chop wood? - A Woodchuck would chop as much wood as a Woodchuck could if he could cut wood ”). The tongue twister effect only occurs in English. The English "woodchuck" probably comes from a language of the Algonquin Indians in which the animal was called wuchack .

literature

Web links

Wiktionary: marmot  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations
Commons : Woodchuck  Album with pictures, videos and audio files

supporting documents

  1. a b c d Marmota monax . In: Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Eds.): Mammal Species of the World. A taxonomic and geographic Reference. 2 volumes. 3. Edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 .
  2. ^ Carl von Linné : Systema naturae. 10th edition, 1758; Volume 1, pp. 60, 63-64 ( digitized version ).
  3. ^ Native Languages ​​of the Americas: "Native American Woodchuck Mythology." (Accessed April 10, 2013)