Definition

Noun 1. A large North American mountain marmot: A species of rodent in the squirrel family (Sciuridae), specifically a type of ground squirrel known as a marmot, native to mountainous regions of northwestern North America. It is characterized by its relatively large size and distinctive fur coloration.

Usage Notes

• "Marmota caligata" is the scientific (Latin) binomial name for this animal. In formal or biological contexts, it is always written in italics.
• The common name for this species is the hoary marmot. In everyday English, it is almost always referred to by its common name.
• It is used as a singular, countable noun (e.g., , ).

Examples

• Scientific Context:
  • The study focused on the hibernation patterns of Marmota caligata.
  • Researchers identified the species as Marmota caligata based on its cranial measurements.
• Descriptive Context:
  • We spotted a large Marmota caligata sunbathing on a rocky outcrop above the tree line.

Advanced Usage

• The name can be used in taxonomic discussions to specify the exact species within the genus , which includes other marmots like the woodchuck ().
• In ecological writing, it may be used to emphasize precision, especially when distinguishing it from similar species like the Vancouver Island marmot ().

Variants and Related Words

• Hoary marmot (n.): The standard common English name for .
• Whistler (n., informal): A colloquial nickname for this marmot, derived from its high-pitched alarm call.
• Marmot (n.): The general term for the group of large ground squirrels in the genus .
• Ground squirrel (n.): A broader category of rodents to which marmots belong.

Synonyms

• Hoary marmot
• Whistler (regional/informal)

Different Meanings

• "Marmota caligata" has only one specific meaning: it refers exclusively to this single species of marmot. It is not used idiomatically or in other contexts.

Noun

1. large North American mountain marmot