Prairie Dog - Classification and First Identification

Classification and First Identification

The black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) was first described by Lewis and Clark in 1804 during the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Lewis described it in more detail in 1806, calling it the "barking squirrel".

• ORDER RODENTIA
• Suborder Sciuromorpha
  • FAMILY SCIURIDAE (squirrels, chipmunks, marmots, and prairie dogs)
    • Subfamily Xerinae
      • Genus Cynomys
        • Gunnison's prairie dog, Cynomys gunnisoni
        • White-tailed prairie dog, Cynomys leucurus
        • Black-tailed prairie dog, Cynomys ludovicianus
        • Mexican prairie dog, Cynomys mexicanus
        • Utah prairie dog, Cynomys parvidens
      • About 14 other genera in subfamily