I82 



MAMMALS OF AMERICA 



COLUMBIA GROUND SQUIRREL 



Citellus columbianus ( Ord) 



General Description. — A large, heavy-bodied, short- 

 tailed Ground Squirrel. Head very blunt : ears broad, 

 rounded, of moderate height ; body very thick-set ; tail 

 only about one-quarter length of head and body, flat 

 and moderately bushy ; legs short ; color above, mixed 

 white, black and yellowish-brown ; below, brownish-red ; 

 hairs of moderate length and coarseness. 



Dental Formula. — Same as foregoing. 



Pelage. — .Adults ; Sexes identical ; some seasonal 

 variation but not especially conspicuous. Color above, 

 mixed white, black and yellowish-brown with numerous 

 blotches formed by the white ; an obscure brownish 

 streak on back ; upper part of neck blackish ; side of 

 face grizzled black and white ; under parts and hind 

 parts of hips and thighs brownish-red; feet like under 

 parts : tail above gray, brown and black mingled ; 

 beneath, brownish-red bordered with black. Youxc : 

 Like adults but colors paler. 



Measurements. — Total length. 15 inches; tail verte- 

 brae. 3.5 inches; hind foot. 1.8 inches. 



Range. — From western Montana to Washington, 

 and north through British Columbia and ."Maska to 

 Plover Bay in Siberia. 



Food. — A variety of fleshy plants, seeds and roots. 



Remarks. — This Ground Squirrel is an example of 

 the group of heavy-bodied, short-tailed Ground Squir- 

 rels that range throughout the Xorthwest, They are 



all large animals. Some thirteen of the larger species 

 have been described, if for convenience sake we form a 

 group, although they are closely related to the smaller 

 Ground Squirrels of a more southern range. 



Rel.\ted Species 



Columbia Ground Squirrel. — Citcllt4s columbianus 

 colunib'uiiius (Ord). Typical animal of the above 

 description. From Montana north to .Alaska. 



Point Barrow Ground Squirrel. — Citellus barroxv- 

 riisis (Merriam). Largest Ground Squirrel known. 

 Region about Point Barrow. .Alaska. 



Alaska Ground Squirrel. — Citellus beringensis 

 (Merriam). General color fulvous; ferruginous on nose 

 and underside of tail ; back spotted with buffy white ; 

 size large. Common to the region about Cape Lis- 

 bourne. Alaska. 



Yukon Ground Squirrel. — Citi-llus osyoodi (Mer- 

 riam). Size large; tail long; gray above with fulvous 

 flanks ; back fulvous spotted with whitish ; under parts 

 ferruginous. \'ukiin region. .Alaska. 



Arctic Ground Squirrel. — Citellus j^arrxii ( Richard- 

 son). One of the largest and hardiest; tail short. 

 Mixed black, white and yellowish-brown above, top of 

 head cinnamon and black. Arctic .America from Mel- 

 ville Peninsula to southwest Yukon River, and in the 

 east to 65° north latitude. 



Photograph by the U. S. Biological Survey 



COLUMBIA GROUND SQUIRREL 



A very large Spermophile that is fond of roots and tubers, and hibernates for 



long periods 



