Cynomys parvidens, J. A. Allen, 1905
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6840226 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6819047 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/064D0660-FFBE-ED43-FFDA-F380F700FDBD |
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treatment provided by |
Diego |
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scientific name |
Cynomys parvidens |
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Utah Prairie Dog
French: Chien-de-prairie de | I'Utah / German: Utah-Prariehund / Spanish: Perrito de la pradera de Utah
Taxonomy. Cynomys parvidens J. A. Allen, 1905 View in CoL ,
“Buckskin Valley, Iron County, Utah.” USA.
This species is monotypic.
Distribution. SC Utah (USA).
Descriptive notes. Head-body 299-370 mm (males) and 290-368 mm (females), tail 49-62 mm (males) and 47-56 mm (females); weight mean 1-1 kg (males) and 0-78 kg (females). The Utah Prairie Dog is the smallest species of Cynomys. It has dorsal pelage that is clay, cinnamon, or buff, with pale buff to white chin and upper cheek. Dark brown or black stripe is found above each eye, with some dark brown or black below each eye. Venter is light cinnamon to pale buff. Tail grades from buff base to distal white. Diploid numberis 2n = 50.
Habitat. Open grasslands and sagebrush flats. The Utah Prairie Dog avoidssites with a slope and abandons areas where vegetation obstructs view of surroundings.
Food and Feeding. The Utah Prairie Dog is an herbivore that feeds on a variety of grasses, forbs, flowers, shrubs, and seeds. It also feeds on insects when available and often gleans them from cattle feces. It can thrive in pastures grazed by livestock because they have only modest dietary overlap; irrigated fields are particular attractive.
Breeding. The Utah Prairie Dog lives in multi-burrow colonies. Females usually mate within several days of their emergence from hibernacula. Multiple paternities of litters are common. Females attain sexual maturity and mate as yearlings. Most males delay reproduction until two years old. Young are born after gestation of 28-30 days and remain in the burrow for c.5-5 weeks. Litters at emergence are 1-7 young, and young are weaned soon afterward. A female produces one litter per year.
Activity patterns. Utah Prairie Dogs are diurnal and hibernate in burrows for lengthy winters that last up to ¢.7 months. Adults typically emerge in February and enter hibernation in late summer or early autumn; juveniles remain active until October-November.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. Burrows are relatively complex with multiple entrances and are recognizable by small piles of soil and barren rings around entrances. Utah Prairie Dogs live in colonies known as “towns.” Burrows can be complex, with up to ten entrances and 1-3 nests. Burrows typically do not exceed 6 m in length and perhaps 3 m in depth. Colonies vary considerably in their size and density. Utah Prairie Dogs are highly social, and typical social units (“clans”) are composed of an adult male, several adult females, and immature young less than two years of age. Amicable interactions among adults and juveniles include kissing, analand oralgland sniffing, and playing. Hostile interactions among adults of both sexes consist of fights, chases, and territorial disputes. Adult females within a clan are always close kin. Following first emergence ofjuveniles from nursery burrows, females commonly nurse offspring of other females until weaning is complete (in another 1-3 weeks); beneficiaries of such communal nursing are usually close kin, such as grand offspring, nieces, and nephews. Young are much more likely to disperse from natal areas if other relatives persist. Infanticide by adult males is known to occur. Alarm calls are given in response to large-bodied mustelids, felids, canids, and raptors that are principal predators. Predators may have more impact on new colonies and expanding colonies than established colonies because burrow systems are less developed.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red List. Population trend of the Utah Prairie Dog is declining. Historically, they were hunted occasionally for food and frequently for target practice or sport. Sometimes inaccurately viewed as significant competitor for forage or as a threat to livestock because their open burrows were thought to be potential hazards to grazing animals. Some researchers consider species of Cynomys to be keystone species for ecosystem health. As a potential pest, Utah Prairie Dogs were often poisoned in the 1900s in an attempt to extirpate them, resulting in massive declines from populations estimated to have been perhaps 95,000 individuals in 1800 km? The Utah Prairie Dog is also susceptible to outbreaks of sylvatic plague that rapidly eliminate local populations. It now occurs in substantial populations in only three areas: Awapa Plateau, along the east fork of the Sevier River, and in eastern Iron County. Reintroduction and population augmentation attempts show great promise as conservation and management tools.
Bibliography. Curtis et al. (2014), Haynie et al. (2003), Hoogland (2001, 2003b, 2006, 2009, 2013b), Manno (2007), Pizzimenti & Collier (1975), USFWS (1991), Thorington et al. (2012).
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