Editing Hoary marmot (section)

==Description==
[[File:Marmota caligata BC.jpg|thumb|left|Hoary marmot near Helen Lake, Banff National Park, Canada]]
The hoary marmot is a large, bulky, ground squirrel, with short, heavy limbs, and a broad head. Adults range from {{convert|62|to|82|cm|abbr=on}} in total length, including a {{convert|17|to|25|cm|abbr=on}} tail. The species is [[sexual dimorphism|sexually dimorphic]], with males being significantly larger than females in most subspecies. Because of their long winter [[hibernation]], during which they survive on fat reserves, the weight of the animals varies considerably over the course of the year, from an average of {{convert|3.75|kg|lb|abbr=on}} in May to around {{convert|7|kg|lb|abbr=on}} in September, for a fully grown adult.<ref name=Braun2011>{{cite journal | author = Braun, J.K.| year = 2011 | title = ''Marmota caligata'' (Rodentia: Sciuridae) | journal = Mammalian Species | volume = 43 | issue = 1 | pages = 155–171 | doi = 10.1644/884.1|display-authors=etal| doi-access = free }}</ref> A few fall adult males can commonly range up to a weight of {{convert|10|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref>[http://nature.ca/notebooks/english/homarm.htm Hoary Marmot: Natural History Notebooks]. Nature.ca. Retrieved on 2013-10-10.</ref> The record sized autumn male specimen attained a mass of nearly {{convert|13.5|kg|lb|abbr=on}}, possibly the largest size known for any marmot.<ref>Beer, ''Encyclopedia of North American Mammals: An Essential Guide to Mammals of North America''. Thunder Bay Press (2004), {{ISBN|978-1-59223-191-1}}.</ref> Going on its average size relative to other marmot species, it is slightly smaller on average than the [[Olympic marmot]], similar in size to the [[Vancouver Island marmot]] and broadly overlaps in size with several lesser-known Asian marmot species as well.<ref name=Braun2011/><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Edelman |first=Andrew J. |date=December 2003 |title=Marmota olympus |url=https://academic.oup.com/mspecies/article-lookup/doi/10.1644/736 |journal=Mammalian Species |language=en |volume=736 |pages=1–5 |doi=10.1644/736 |issn=0076-3519}}</ref><ref>Murdoch, J. D., Munkhzul, T., Buyandelger, S., Reading, R. P., & Sillero-Zubiri, C. (2009). ''The Endangered Siberian marmot Marmota sibirica as a keystone species? Observations and implications of burrow use by corsac foxes Vulpes corsac in Mongolia''. Oryx, 43(3), 431-434.</ref><ref>Chaudhary, V., Tripathi, R. S., Singh, S., & Raghuvanshi, M. S. (2017). ''Distribution and population of Himalayan Marmot Marmota himalayana (Hodgson, 1841)(Mammalia: Rodentia: Sciuridae) in Leh-Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, India''. Journal of Threatened Taxa, 9(11), 10886-10891.</ref>

The word "hoary" refers to the silver-gray fur on their shoulders and upper back; the remainder of the upper parts have drab- or reddish-brown fur. The head is black on the upper surface, with a white patch on the muzzle, white fur on the chin and around the lips, and grizzled black or brown fur elsewhere. The feet and lower legs are black, sometimes with white patches on the fore feet. Marmots have long [[guard hair]]s that provide most of the visible colour of their [[fur|pelage]], and a dense, soft underfur that provides insulation. The greyish underparts of the body lack this underfur, and are more sparsely haired than the rest of the body.<ref name=Hoffmann1979>{{cite journal | author = Hoffmann, R.S.| year = 1979 | title = The relationships of the Amphiberingian marmots (Mammalia: Sciuridae) | journal = Occasional Papers of the Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas | volume = 83 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/4138352 | pages = 1–56|display-authors=etal}}</ref> Hoary marmots [[moulting|moult]] in the early to mid summer.<ref name=Braun2011/>

The feet have slightly curved claws, which are somewhat larger on the fore feet than on the hind feet. The feet have hairless pads, enhancing their grip. The tail is long, slightly flattened, and covered with dense fur. Apart from the larger size of the males, both sexes have a similar appearance. Females have five pairs of [[teat]]s, running from the pectoral to the inguinal regions.<ref name=Braun2011/>