black-tailed prairie dog
(Cynomys ludovicianus)
This species is Native to certain parts of the United States but may be invasive to others
Origin
Cynomys ludovicianus is native to North America with a historical range from southern Saskatchewan, Canada to Chihuahua, Mexico. In the United States, the black-tailed prairie dog is currently present in 11 States including Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming.
Life Cycle
C. ludovicianus are rodents in the squirrel family that are brownish in color with a distinct black-tipped tail. Adult black-tailed prairie dogs are approximately 15 in. (38.4 mm) in length and weigh 2.6 lb. (1.2 kg). Black-tailed prairie dogs inhabit grasslands including short- and mixed-grass prairie, sagebrush steppe, and desert grasslands. C. ludovicianus are highly social diurnal mammals that live in large burrowing colonies. Black-tailed prairie dogs are polygynous, a single male mating with multiple females, and breed once per year. Female gestate for approximately 34.7 days and birth a litter of 1-8 pups. Males will disperse from the group while females will remain for life. The average life span in the wild is 1 year.
Distribution
C. ludovicianus are established in various populations in Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming.
Control Efforts
C. ludovicianus are considered “ecosystem engineers” because they influence their habitat, and ecosystem structure and functions.
https://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/es/blackTailedPrairieDog.php
https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/animals/mammal/cylu/all.html
https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Cynomys_ludovicianus/
Cynomys ludovicianus is native to North America with a historical range from southern Saskatchewan, Canada to Chihuahua, Mexico. In the United States, the black-tailed prairie dog is currently present in 11 States including Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming.
Life Cycle
C. ludovicianus are rodents in the squirrel family that are brownish in color with a distinct black-tipped tail. Adult black-tailed prairie dogs are approximately 15 in. (38.4 mm) in length and weigh 2.6 lb. (1.2 kg). Black-tailed prairie dogs inhabit grasslands including short- and mixed-grass prairie, sagebrush steppe, and desert grasslands. C. ludovicianus are highly social diurnal mammals that live in large burrowing colonies. Black-tailed prairie dogs are polygynous, a single male mating with multiple females, and breed once per year. Female gestate for approximately 34.7 days and birth a litter of 1-8 pups. Males will disperse from the group while females will remain for life. The average life span in the wild is 1 year.
Distribution
C. ludovicianus are established in various populations in Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming.
Control Efforts
C. ludovicianus are considered “ecosystem engineers” because they influence their habitat, and ecosystem structure and functions.
https://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/es/blackTailedPrairieDog.php
https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/animals/mammal/cylu/all.html
https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Cynomys_ludovicianus/
Resources
- Florida's Exotic Wildlife Species Detail - Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Selected Images
Maps
EDDMapS Distribution - This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts, herbaria, and literature. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org
State Lists - This map identifies those states that have this species on their invasive species list or law.
Taxonomic Rank
| Domain: Eukarya |
| Kingdom: Animalia |
| Phylum: Chordata |
| Class: Mammalia |
| Subclass: Theria |
| Order: Rodentia |
| Suborder: Sciuromorpha |
| Family: Sciuridae |
| Genus: Cynomys |
| Cynomys ludovicianus |
References
Common Name Reference: Integrated Taxonomic Information System on-line database.
Scientific Name Reference: Integrated Taxonomic Information System on-line database.