This marmot lives in the highlands of the Altai and Tian Shan and spends much of the cold season hibernating.
It has a stocky body, short thick legs, small furry ears, and a short tail. Its sandy-gray coat has dark tips on the back.
It is active by day and lives in colonies. It eats grasses and other herbaceous plants, including fringed sagebrush in spring. The account reports hibernation lasting seven to eight months each year.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.