A burrowing, herbivorous ground squirrel of the genus Cynomys (family Sciuridae), which lives on the North American prairies and has a warning call that resembles a dog’s bark. The animal is up to 40 cm long, with a short tail. Prairie dogs are highly social, their burrows forming colonies known as towns accommodating up to about 25 family groups, often with each group occupying its own area separated from its neighbours by a barrier. There are five species: white-tailed (C. leucurus), black-tailed (C. ludovicianus), Gunnison’s (C. gunnisoni), Mexican (C. mexicanus), and Utah (C. parvidens).