Examples of animals that resemble groundhogs include marmots, badgers, beavers, capybaras, and chipmunks.
One such animal is the groundhog, whose appearance can often lead to confusion among observers.
In this post, we’ll take a look at some of the animals that share similarities with groundhogs and discuss what makes each one unique.
Examples of animals similar to groundhogs
Examples of animals similar to groundhogs
Scientific name Marmota broweri Animal type Mammal Range Alaska
The Alaskan marmot is a large rodent found in the mountainous regions of Alaska and Canada.
They resemble groundhogs in appearance with their stocky bodies and short legs.
However, they can be recognized by their longer tail and darker fur.
2. Alpine marmots
2. Alpine marmots
Scientific nameMarmota marmota Animal type Mammals Range Tatras and Northern Apennines
The Alpine marmot is a close relative of the groundhog, and the two species share many similarities.
Both animals are members of the squirrel family, and they have similar body proportions and coat colors.
The main difference between these two animals is their size; alpine marmots are much larger than groundhogs, measuring up to three feet in length.
Scientific name Taxidea taxus Animal type Mammal Range USA
The badger is a member of the weasel family and is found in North America, Europe and Asia.
Badgers are powerful animals with short legs and long bodies.
They have black and white striped fur and long, sharp claws that they use for digging.
Although similar in appearance to groundhogs, badgers are actually much larger, averaging about twice as large.
They also have a different diet as they are carnivores that primarily eat small mammals such as rabbits and mice.
Scientific NameCastorType of AnimalMammalRangeUnited States
The beaver is a large, semi-aquatic rodent found in North America and Europe.
Like the groundhog, the beaver has a broad, flat tail that it uses to swim.
However, beavers are much larger than groundhogs, weighing up to 60 pounds (27 kg).
5. Black-capped marmot
5. Black-capped marmot
Scientific nameMarmota camtschatica Animal type Mammal Range Arctic tundra
The black-capped marmot is a small rodent found in the Rocky Mountains of North America.
These marmots are brown or gray in color with a black cap on their head.
They typically grow to be about 16 inches long and weigh between 2 and 4 pounds.
Although they may not look like groundhogs at first glance, they do share some similarities.
Both animals are members of the squirrel family, and both have short tails and fur.
Marmots also dig burrows for shelter, and they hibernate during the winter months.
6. Bobak Marmot
6. Bobak Marmot
Scientific name Marmota bobak Animal type Mammal Range in northern and central Kazakhstan
Bobak marmots are a species of rodent found in Central Asia.
Like the groundhog, it has a stocky body and short legs.
However, there are some important differences between the two animals.
First, Bobak marmots are much larger, weighing up to 5 kg (11 lb).
It also has a longer tail and ears, and its fur is coarser.
The capybara is a large rodent native to South America.
It is the largest member of the rodent family and can weigh up to 150 pounds.
Capybaras are semi-aquatic, meaning they spend time both on land and in water.
What distinguishes the capybara from the groundhog is its size.
Capybaras can be almost twice the size of groundhogs, and their shaggy fur makes them look even bigger.
Additionally, capybaras are semi-aquatic, meaning they spend time both on land and in water.
Scientific nameTamiasAnimal typeMammalRangeNorth America
Chipmunks are one of the most common animals to be confused with groundhogs.
They are small, rodent-like creatures with striped backs and bushy tails.
Chipmunks are found in a variety of habitats, including forests, deserts, and mountains.
What distinguishes chipmunks from groundhogs is their size; Chipmunks are much smaller and usually only reach lengths of about 6 inches.
In addition, chipmunks are known for their high-pitched chirping vocalizations, which are very different from the grunting sounds of groundhogs.
9. Forest-Steppe Marmot
9. Forest-Steppe Marmot
Scientific nameMarmota kastschenkoi Animal type Mammal Ranges South-central Russia
Forest-steppe marmot is a species of marmot found in the forests of Central Asia.
It shares many similarities with the groundhog, including its stocky body, short legs and long tail.
Scientific name Geomyidae Animal type Mammal area North and Central America
The gopher is a small mammal closely related to the groundhog.
Both animals are members of the Rodentia family, which also includes rats and mice.
Gophers are native to North and Central America, while groundhogs are found in North America and Europe.
Like groundhogs, gophers have short legs and bodies and long tails.
Gophers typically live in burrows underground, where they build extensive tunnel systems.
Related Article: 30 Animals Like Gophers
Scientific NameMarmota baibacina Animal Type Mammal RangeXinjiang Province in China
The gray marmot is a member of the squirrel family and is found in the mountainous regions of Europe and Asia.
Like groundhogs, they are burrowers and hibernate during the winter months.
One of the most notable differences between gray marmots and aardvarks is their size, as gray marmots can grow to be twice the size of their aardvark cousins.
Scientific name Marmotini Animal type Mammal Range California
The chipmunk is a type of rodent that is closely related to chipmunks.
Chipmunks are found in a variety of habitats, but they are most often associated with open areas such as grasslands and prairies.
Scientific nameErinaceinae Animal type Mammal area East Africa, West Africa and Central Africa
The hedgehog is a small, spiny mammal native to Europe, Asia and Africa.
Hedgehogs are nocturnal animals, which means they are most active at night.
They have a diet consisting mainly of insects, but they will also eat small mammals, reptiles and amphibians.
Related Article: 28 Animals Like Hedgehogs
Scientific NameMarmota himalayana Animal Type Mammal Range India, Nepal, Pakistan and China
The Himalayan marmot is a burrowing rodent found in the mountainous regions of Nepal and Tibet.
Like groundhogs, they are members of the squirrel family and have short legs for their body size.
They also have short, furry tails and large claws that help them dig their burrows.
One of the most notable features of the Himalayan marmot is their distinctive brown and tan fur, which helps them camouflage in their rocky habitat.
Scientific name Marmota caligata Animal type Mammal Range North America, from Idaho to northern Alaska
The gray marmot is a species of chipmunk found in the mountainous regions of North America.
These animals are notable for their thick fur, which helps keep them warm in their cold habitat.
Gray marmots can also be easily distinguished from groundhogs by their black faces and white throats.
Scientific nameHyracoideaAnimal typeMammalRangeAfrica and in Lebanon
The hyrax is a small, rodent-like mammal found in Africa and the Middle East.
They are easily distinguished from groundhogs by their short legs and lack of fur on the tail.
Long-tailed marmot
Long-tailed marmot
Scientific nameMarmota caudata Animal typeMammal RangeAfghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, extreme southern Kazakhstan
The long-tailed marmot is a member of the squirrel family found in the western United States and Canada.
Like groundhogs, these animals are brown or gray in color and have short legs.
They also have tails that are much longer than those of groundhogs.
One of the most notable differences between long-tailed marmots and groundhogs is their habitat.
Long-tailed marmots live in high-altitude rocky areas, while groundhogs are found in lower-lying areas such as fields and gardens.
Scientific name Marmota menzbieri Animal type Mammal area Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan
Menzbier’s marmot is a rodent species found in the mountains of Central Asia.
This animal is considerably larger than a groundhog, with adults weighing up to 8 kg (18 lb).
The fur of Menzbier’s marmots is brown or reddish-brown in color, and the animals are often mistaken for small bears.
Scientific name Talpidae Animal type Mammal Range worldwide
Moles are small, burrowing mammals found in many places in the world.
While they share some similarities with groundhogs, the most notable difference is their size; moles are much smaller than groundhogs and their fur is usually darker in color.
Another difference between moles and groundhogs is that moles do not have external ears.
This is because their burrowing lifestyle means they don’t need to hear as well as other animals.
Scientific name Ondatra zibethicus Animal type Mammal area North America
The muskrat is a small, rodent-like creature found in North America.
Like the groundhog, it has a stout body and short legs.
Muskrats are brown or black in color and have a long, rat-like tail.
One of the main differences between muskrats and groundhogs is their habitat.
Groundhogs, on the other hand, live on land.
Scientific name Myocastor coypus Animal type Mammal Range Bolivia and southern Brazil
The next animal on our list is the nutria, a large rodent native to South America.
Nutrias are similar to groundhogs in that they have stout bodies, short legs and long tails.
But nutrias are considerably larger than groundhogs, weighing up to 20 pounds.
Olympic marmot
Olympic marmot
Scientific nameMarmota olympus Animal type Mammal Range the Olympic mountains
The Olympic marmot is a close relative of the groundhog.
These animals are found in the mountainous regions of the Pacific Northwest and are known for their burrowing habits.
Like groundhogs, Olympic marmots are herbivores and prefer to eat grass and other plants.
Scientific name Cynomy Animal type Mammal Range Great Plains
Prairie dogs are small, burrowing rodents found in North America.
Prairie dogs are closely related to groundhogs, and the two species share many similarities.
Both animals have short legs, dense bodies and long tails.
Scientific nameMarmota sibirica Animal type Mammal Range China (Inner Mongolia and Heilongjiang), northern and western Mongolia and Russia (southwestern Siberia, Tuva, Transbaikalia)
Tarbagan marmots are a species of groundhog found in Siberia.
These animals are notable for their shaggy fur coats, which can be either brown or gray in color.
They also have long claws on their front paws that they use for digging.
Scientific nameMarmota vancouverensis Animal typeMammalRangeCanada
The Vancouver Island marmot (Marmota vancouverensis) is a large chipmunk endemic to Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.
The Vancouver Island marmot is the largest member of the genus Marmota, with adults weighing up to 5 kg (11 lb).
They can be easily distinguished from other marmots by their small size, black ear tips and chocolate brown fur.
Scientific nameVombatidaeAnimal typeMammalRangeAustralia
The wombat is a small, fat marsupial that is native to Australia.
These animals are most easily distinguished by their burrowing habits and their characteristic cube-shaped droppings.
Wombats are roughly the same size as groundhogs, but they have shorter legs and a heavier build.
Their fur is also darker, ranging from brown to black.
Scientific nameMarmota flaviventris Animal type Mammal Ranges southwestern Canada
The yellow-bellied marmot is a member of the squirrel family and is found in North America.
These animals can be easily distinguished from groundhogs by their shorter tails and darker fur.
Marmots are also known to make loud, clattering noises, something groundhogs do not.
There are many animals that resemble groundhogs, but each of them has its own unique characteristics.
The animal that resembles the groundhog is the marmot, which is larger and found in different parts of the world.
Other animals similar to aardvarks include beaver, muskrat, badger, raccoon, and alpine marmot.
Each of these animals has its own specific characteristics, but all share a general similarity to groundhogs.
Living in South Africa, I have had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close.