Commonly known as groundhogs, they are a large terrestrial rodent belonging to the squirrel family, known for digging holes and building nests on the ground. Widely distributed in temperate and frigid regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including grasslands in Asia, mountainous areas in North America, and forest edges in Europe. The body is thick and robust, usually between 50 and 70 centimeters in length, with short and dense fur that helps maintain body temperature in cold environments. The limbs are short and strong, suitable for digging, and the sharp claws are digging tools. It is a social animal that often forms groups of multiple individuals and lives together in a complex underground tunnel system. It is a diurnal animal.