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Cynomys leucurus

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White-tailed Prairie Dog
(Cynomys leucurus)
Range
Taxonomic classification
Order:Rodentia
Suborder:Sciuromorpha
Family:Sciuridae
Subfamily:Xerinae
Tribe:Marmotini
Genus:Cynomys
Subgenus:Leucocrossuromys
Binomial details
Cynomys leucurus C. H. Merriam, 1890
Other resources
Full taxonomic details at MDD

The White-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys leucurus) is medium-sized for the genus. It is found in parts of Montana, Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming.

Description

From Clark et al. (1971) : "The general color of upper body parts is yellowish buff, streaked with blackish. A spot above the eye and a large area on the cheek are blackish brown. The tail is white; hairs of the proximal half have bands of blackish interspersed with pale cinnamon, whereas those of the distal half are clear white."

White-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys leucurus) observed by Adam Burnett in Albany County, Wyoming.
White-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys leucurus) observed by Liam Pentangelo in Jackson County, Colorado.
White-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys leucurus) observed by Gerold Morrison in Mesa County, Colorado.

Museum type specimens

  • Holotype: USNM 186472. Cynomys leucurus. Adult female. Fort Bridger, Uinta County, Wyoming. Collected 15 September 1888.
  • Holotype: USNM 186472. Cynomys leucurus. Adult female. Fort Bridger, Uinta County, Wyoming. Collected 15 September 1888.

External measurements

Length measurements are in millimeters (mm) and weight measurements are in grams (g), unless stated otherwise. If available, the sample size (n=) is provided. If a range is not provided and n= is not given, then the listed measurement represents an average.

Part of range Reference Total length Tail length Hindfoot length Ear length Mass
Colorado Armstrong et al. (2010) 315–400 40–65 60–65 8–14 650–1,700


Skull

  • Holotype: USNM 186472. Cynomys leucurus. Adult female. Fort Bridger, Uinta County, Wyoming. Collected 15 September 1888. Dorsal view of the skull.
  • Holotype: USNM 186472. Cynomys leucurus. Adult female. Fort Bridger, Uinta County, Wyoming. Collected 15 September 1888. Ventral view of the skull.
  • Holotype: USNM 186472. Cynomys leucurus. Adult female. Fort Bridger, Uinta County, Wyoming. Collected 15 September 1888. Lateral view of the skull.
  • Holotype: USNM 186472. Cynomys leucurus. Adult female. Fort Bridger, Uinta County, Wyoming. Collected 15 September 1888. Dorsal view of the mandible.
  • Holotype: USNM 186472. Cynomys leucurus. Adult female. Fort Bridger, Uinta County, Wyoming. Collected 15 September 1888. Lateral view of the the left mandible.

Similar species

Key to the prairie dogs

References

Clark TW, Hoffmann RS, Nadler CF. 1971. Cynomys leucurus. Mammalian Species (7):1-4. https://doi.org/10.2307/3503914

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