Sciuridae
Cynomys ludovicianus
(black-tailed prairie dog)

Image Caption:
A black-tailed prairie dog scans for potential predators.  Because prairie dogs are concentrated in colonies, their high densities attract a wide range of predators.  To protect themselves from the potential threat, prairie dogs spend about one third of their above ground time on the lookout for predators (Hoogland, 1996, p. 5).  Upon seeing one, the prairie dog gives a loud alarm, alerting every prairie dog in earshot, severely reducing the chance that a predator will catch an animal off guard (Hoogland, 1996, p. 5).

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Cynomys ludovicianus (Black-tailed Prairie Dog)
Works Cited:

Hoogland, J. L.  (1996).  Cynomys ludovicianus.  The American Society of Mammalogists Mammalian Species 535.
Image Location: United States, South Dakota, Wind Cave National Park
Image Date: 2009JULY09
Image Species: Cynomys ludovicianus
(EXIF Information is accurate – stamped in UTC).

Web Page and Pictures By Peter Leitheiser
Updated: 2009JUL14