A prairie dog is a rodent. This burrowing mammal, native to the vast grasslands of North America, is classified within the Order Rodentia. This classification is based on specific physical characteristics, which it shares with mice, beavers, and squirrels. Its common name suggests a canine connection, but this refers to its alarm call rather than its biological identity.
Defining Characteristics of a Rodent
The mammalian Order Rodentia is the largest group of mammals, defined by a specialized dental structure adapted for gnawing. The most distinguishing feature is the single pair of incisors in both the upper and lower jaws. These teeth are open-rooted, meaning they grow continuously throughout the animal’s life, which necessitates constant wear. The incisors are self-sharpening because the front surface is covered in hard enamel while the back is softer dentine, creating a chisel-like edge as the teeth grind against each other.
Rodents also lack the canine teeth found in many other mammals, leaving a noticeable gap between the incisors and the molars. This dental structure is supported by powerful masseter muscles, which are specialized for the back-and-forth motion required for gnawing. The combination of these continuously growing, chisel-like incisors and the specialized jaw mechanics are the criteria for classification as a rodent. These biological mechanics are present across all species within the order.
The Prairie Dog’s Place in the Rodent Family
The prairie dog belongs to the Family Sciuridae, commonly known as the squirrel family. This places it in the same broader group as tree squirrels, chipmunks, and marmots.
Within this family, the prairie dog is assigned to the genus Cynomys, which includes five species, such as the black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus). Though often mistaken for a groundhog or a marmot due to its stout body and burrowing habit, the prairie dog is a closely related member of the ground squirrel lineage.
Social Structure and Habitat
Prairie dogs are highly social animals that construct elaborate systems of underground tunnels in their natural habitat of North American grasslands. These vast networks are known as “towns” or colonies, and they can span hundreds of acres with multiple entrances. Within these towns, the social structure is divided into extended family groups called “coteries.”
A typical coterie is a territorial unit consisting of one adult male, a few adult females, and their young offspring. The prairie dog earned the “dog” part of its name from the high-pitched alarm call it uses to warn its coterie members of predators. They are a diurnal species, meaning they are active above ground during the day, where they forage and use the volcano-shaped mounds at their burrow entrances as lookout posts.