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Arctic ground squirrel - SPERMOPHILUS PARRYII
Class: Animals with Milk Glands (Mammalia)
The Name "Squirrel": "Squirrel" comes from the Middle English word
"squyrel," which came from the Greek "skiouros" for the animal.
Notice that the family name for these animals is "Sciuridae," which
may also be the derivation of our word "scurry."
Location: From Alaska to Hudson Bay in North America, and in eastern Siberia.
Habitat: Arctic tundra.
Description: The coat is brownish-yellow or reddish brown with white speckling, and the legs are tawny. An adult can reach 20 inches long, six of which are the tail. It weighs up to two and one half pounds.
Behavior: This diurnal squirrel is mainly a vegetarian but will eat insects, eggs, mice, and other small rodents. It digs a burrow deep in the ground with several different chambers and "larders" to store food. There is usually just one entrance, and before the period of winter hibernation, which lasts from October to May, this is blocked with a "plug" made of damp earth. When this species enters hibernation it has become quite awkward because of all the subcutaneous fat it has accumulated. In the event of danger, or when frightened, it lets out a strident call, which also acts as a warning signal to other Arctic ground squirrels.
Reproduction: The gestation period lasts for about 25 days and the 4 to 8 young are born in June and July.
Note:
Go to the Rodents Page to learn more about all the gnawing animals.
Or go to the Squirrel Index to study other
squirrels.
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