Mexican prairie dogs are yellowish in color with darker ears and a lighter belly. Adults weigh about 1 kg (2.2 lb) and are 35-43 cm (14-17 inches) long. Males of this species are larger than females.
Mexican prairie dogs are found in the regions of southern Coahuila and northern San Luis Potosí in northern Mexico. They live in rock-free soil in plains and plateaus which are usually found in valleys.
Mexican prairie dogs are diurnal and spend daylight hours above the ground. They live in excavated colonies, called "towns", which they dig for shelter and protection. A typical town has a funnel-like entrance that slants down into a corridor up to 100 ft (30 m) long, with side chambers for storage and nesting. Some chambers in these burrows serve specific purposes such as nurseries for new mothers and their young. Prairie dogs have strong muscles in their arms which allow them to dig through the often dense dirt of their habitats. They have even been found to use their teeth to dig, although this is less common. Towns can contain hundreds of prairie dogs, but generally have fewer than 50, with a single alpha male. Sometimes, Spotted ground squirrels or Burrowing owls share the burrow with its rightful owners. Prairie dogs communicate with high-pitched yips and barks. They can run up to 56 kilometers per hour (35 miles per hour). As a consequence, their defense mechanism is to sound the alarm, and then get away quickly.
Mexican prairie dogs are herbivores (folivores, graminivores) and eat herbs and grasses native to the plains where they live. They acquire all of their water from these plants. Although mainly herbivores, they may sometimes consume insects.
Mexican prairie dogs are polygynous meaning that one male mates with more than one female during the breeding season. Their mating season generally lasts from January to April. After one month's gestation, females give birth to one litter per year, an average of 4 hairless pups. They are born with their eyes closed and use their tails as visual aids until they can see, about 40 days after birth. Weaning occurs during late May and early June, when yearlings may break away from the burrow. Pups leave their mothers by fall. As they grow older, young play fighting games that involve biting, hissing, and tackling. They become reproductively mature after one year of age.
Viewed as a pest and an obstacle to agriculture and cattle raising due to their burrowing and frequent consumption of crops, Mexican prairie dogs were frequently poisoned, and became endangered in 1994. They currently inhabit less than 4% of their former territory and have suffered a 33% decrease in the range between 1996 and 1999.
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Mexican prairie dog total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List, and its numbers today are decreasing.
