Gold mantle ground burrower
| Gold mantle ground burrower | ||||||||||||
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Gold-mantled ground squirrel ( Callospermophilus lateralis ) |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Callospermophilus lateralis | ||||||||||||
| ( Say , 1823) |
The gold- coated ground squirrel ( Callospermophilus lateralis , syn .: Spermophilus lateralis ) is a representative of the squirrels (Sciuridae) and occurs in western North America. It reaches a height of 23 to 30 centimeters and lives in all forest types in North America. Its diet consists of seeds , fruits , nuts and various underground mushrooms. He himself is hunted by hawks , coyotes , foxes and weasels .
Appearance
In its coloration, the gold-coated ground squirrel resembles the chipmunks of North America; however, he has no facial stripes. Its fur is golden-brown only in the shoulder area, otherwise multicolored (red-brown, yellow-brown, gray). On the back there are striking white stripes on the sides, each surrounded by two black stripes.
The gold-coated ground squirrel lives almost in its entire range in habitats similar to other ground squirrels . In Bryce Canyon National Park, for example, it occurs alongside the Uinta chipmunk ( Eutamias umbrinus ) and the rock ground squirrel ( Spermophilus variegatus ). The gold-coated ground squirrel hibernates and creates storage caves. To collect food, he has large cheek pouches .
The tunnel systems of the gold-coated brick reach up to 30 meters in length, with the exit mostly hidden in a bush. The female gives birth to four to six young each year in summer.
Systematics
The gold- coated ground squirrel is a species of the genus Callospermophilus within the ground squirrel . The first description was in 1823 by Thomas Say . The genus has long been classified as part of the ground squirrel (Spermophilus) and within the subgenus Callospermophilus , but after a comprehensive molecular biological investigation, this was considered as an independent genus together with several other genera.
supporting documents
- ↑ a b Richard W. Thorington Jr., John L. Koprowski, Michael A. Steele: Squirrels of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2012; Pp. 296-298. ISBN 978-1-4214-0469-1
- ↑ Matthew D. Herron, Todd A. Castoe, Christopher L. Parkinson: Sciurid phylogeny and the paraphyly of holarctic ground squirrels (Spermophilus). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 31, 2004; Pp. 1015-1030. ( Full text , PMID 15120398 )
- ↑ Kristofer M. Helgen, F. Russell Cole, Lauren E. Helgen, Don E. Wilson: Generic Revision in the holarctic ground squirrels genus Spermophilus. Journal of Mammalogy 90 (2), 2009; Pp. 270-305. doi : 10.1644 / 07-MAMM-A-309.1
literature
- John O. Whitaker: National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mammals. Revised edition, 2nd edition, fully revised. Alfred A Knopf, New York NY 1996, ISBN 0-679-44631-1 .
Web links
- Callospermophilus lateralis in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2006. Posted by: Yensen, 1996. Retrieved on 6 May, 2006.