Marmots are relatively large ground squirrels in the genus Marmota, with 15 species living in Asia, Europe, and North America. These herbivores are active during the summer when often found in groups, but are not seen during the winter when they hibernate underground. They are the heaviest members of the squirrel family.

While most species are various forms of earthen-hued brown, marmots vary in fur coloration based roughly on their surroundings. Species in more open habitat are more likely to have a paler colour, while those sometimes found in well-forested regions tend to be darker.

Marmots are the heaviest members of the squirrel family. Total length varies typically from about 42 to 72 cm and body mass averages about 2 kg in spring in the smaller species and 8 kg in autumn, at times exceeding 11 kg, in the larger species.   

In North America, on the basis of mean linear dimensions and body masses through the year, the smallest species appears to be the Alaska marmot and the largest is the Olympic marmot.

Some species, such as the Himalayan marmot and Tarbagan marmot in Asia, appear to attain roughly similar body masses to the Olympic marmot, but are not known to reach as high a total length as the Olympic species. 

None of them are particularly active on the internet or social media.