Marmotte

(Movie)

The groundhog is a mammal fouisseur the order of rodents of the genus Marmota.

The species best known in Europe is the groundhog living in the mountains (Marmota marmota) while in North America is Marmota monax known locally siffleux or groundhog in English (literally: ground pork).

List of species
* Marmota baibacina, Asia
* Marmota bobak, Eurasia
* Marmota broweri, Alaska
* Marmota caligata, Alaska - Marmot Mountain
* Marmota camtschatica, Kamchatka - Marmotte Kamchatka
* Marmota caudata, long-tailed marmot Central Asia
* Marmota flaviventris, North America - Marmotte bellied fauve
* Marmota himalayana, Marmotte of the Himalayas
* Marmota marmota, European Alps (images)
* Marmota menzbieri, Central Asia
* Marmota monax, marmot common North America
* Marmota olympus, Mont Olympic, United States
* Marmota sibirica, Siberia
* Marmota vancouverensis, Vancouver Island

Characteristics
The groundhog is caecotrophe, ie it digests its food twice by ingesting some of its own pellets.

Uses
Previously, the mountain in the Alps and elsewhere capitalized on the groundhog, they hunted for its fur, its flesh, its fat. Hunting is still permitted in France although very strictly regulated. In North America, hunting marmotta monax is free, since the species is extremely widespread and is classified as a 'nuisance'. Fur marmots of Asia and North America is still in use under the name murmel. Highlanders immigrants in large cities also showed the attraction as fair.

Today, his interest is more of a tourist, it has become one of the major symbols of the Alps.

Folklore and expressions derived
The American groundhog is about a tradition celebrated by North Americans (Canadians and Americans) every year on February 2 called on the day of the groundhog (groundhog day), depending on whether it sees its shadow or not, it will announce a late spring or early.

In this vein, it has also been used in advertisements (example: the groundhog and foil packaging for a chocolate brand Milka since an advertisement produced by Chris Noonan in 1998).

In Quebec, are often the nickname Marmotte to unscrupulous people who abuse and exploit people. In France, we use the term "sleep" as a groundhog when a person is sleeping peacefully and profoundly. See the article on the animal idioms

Origin of name
From Latin mus montis: mouse from the mountain. Would that the animal in question when "the mountain accoucha a mouse? Is siffleux known in Quebec as it whistles to prevent the danger. Anglophones appoint the groundhog (lit. "pig land"), in German is the Murmeltier: literally the animal (Tier) who mutters, marmot (murmelen, moemelen in Dutch).

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