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Arctic Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus parryii)Arctic Ground Squirrel - Nunavut, Canada Photograph by Steve Sayles. Some rights reserved. (view image details) Arctic Ground Squirrel photograph from Wikipedia. Photograph by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. License: Public Domain. (view image details)
ARCTIC GROUND SQUIRREL FACTS
DescriptionThe Arctic Ground Squirrel has beige and tan fur mottled with white spots on its dorsal side. It has blunt face, small ears, and a dark brushy tail. There is a whitish ring round the eye. They live in colonies of 5 to 50 individuals. They hibernate underground to survive the harsh winter. It gets its common name of Siksik from the "tsik" sounding call it makes to alert others of danger. Other Names Siksik Size Length 39cm. Weight: 700g - 800g Environment well vegetated areas of the Arctic tundra, meadows Food Arctic Ground Squirrel are mainly herbivorous and eat grasses, sedges, fungi, roots, stalks, leaves, flowers, and seeds. It usually feeds holds the food between its paws. Breeding Five to ten young are born in a burrow after a gestation period of around 25 days. The young are born naked and blind. They are weaned after about 6 weeks. Range Alaska, northern Canada from the Arctic Circle to the southern border of the Northwest Territories, Alaska. Also Siberia Classification
Relatives in same Genus Uinta Ground Squirrel (S. armatus) California Ground Squirrel (S. beecheyi) Belding's Ground Squirrel (S. beldingi) Idaho Ground Squirrel (S. brunneus) Columbian Ground Squirrel (S. columbianus) Wyoming Ground Squirrel (S. elegans) Franklin's Ground Squirrel (S. franklinii) Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel (S. lateralis) Richardson's Ground Squirrel (S. richardsonii) Spotted Ground Squirrel (S. spilosoma) Round-tailed Ground Squirrel (S. tereticaudus) Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel (S. tridecemlineatus) Rock Squirrel (S. variegatus) Home | Mammals | Reptiles | Birds | Insects | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Contact Us |