35 mm slide; color. Scientific Classification: Kingdom: Animalia; Phylum: Chordata; Class: Mammalia; Order: Rodentia; Family: Sciuridae; Genus: Cynomys; Genus species: Cynomys ludovicianus. Animal characteristics: Head-Body Length: 28-32 cm; Weight: 1-2 kg; Identification: The tip of the black-tailed prairie dog's tail is black, hence the name. The rest of the body is buff to brown in color; Habitat: Grasslands; Diet: Herbivore: weeds and grasses; Reproduction: After a four-week gestation period, 4-5 young are born in March, April, or May. They are weaned at seven weeks of age; Social Structure: Prairie dogs live in 'towns' containing up to several thousand animals; Behavior: So named because of their bark-like cries, prairie dogs are actually ground squirrels. They live in burrows that are 2-5 meters deep; Status: No special status; Interesting Facts: The number of prairie dogs is decreasing considerably because they are hunted as pests and displaced by livestock. Other threats include eagles, foxes, and coyotes.