ground squirrels

Ground squirrels are members of the squirrel family of rodents (Sciuridae), which generally live on or in the ground, rather than trees. The term is most often used for the medium-sized ground squirrels, as the larger ones are more commonly known as marmots (genus ''Marmota'') or prairie dogs, while the smaller and less bushy-tailed ground squirrels tend to be known as chipmunks (genus ''Tamias''). Together, they make up the "marmot tribe" of squirrels, Marmotini, a division within the large and mainly ground squirrel subfamily Xerinae, and containing six living genera. Well-known members of this largely Holarctic group are the marmots (''Marmota''), including the American groundhog, the chipmunks, the susliks (''Spermophilus''), and the prairie dogs (''Cynomys''). They are highly variable in size and habitus, but most are remarkably able to rise up on their hind legs and stand fully erect comfortably for prolonged periods. They also tend to be far more gregarious than other squirrels, and many live in colonies with complex social structures. Most Marmotini are rather short-tailed and large squirrels. At up to or more, certain marmots are the heaviest squirrels.

The chipmunks of the genus ''Tamias'' frequently spend time in trees. Also closer to typical squirrels in other aspects, they are occasionally considered a tribe of their own (Tamiini).

The ground squirrel is especially renowned for its tendency to rise up on its hind legs, usually whenever it senses nearby danger, or when it must see over tall grasses. The squirrel then curls its paws flat against its chest and sends a screeching call to warn other family members about the presence of predators.

Evolution and systematics

'' Palaeosciurus'' from Europe is the oldest known ground squirrel species, and it does not seem to be particularly close to any of the two to three living lineages (subtribes) of Marmotini. The oldest fossils are from the Early Oligocene, more than 30 million years ago (Mya), but the genus probably persisted at least until the mid-Miocene, some 15 Mya.

Where the Marmotini originated is unclear. The subtribes probably diverged in the early to mid-Oligocene, as primitive marmots and chipmunks are known from the Late Oligocene of North America. The fossil record of the "true" ground squirrels is less well known, beginning only in the mid-Miocene, when modern susliks and prairie dogs are known to have inhabited their present-day range already.

Whether the Marmotini dispersed between North America and Eurasia via "island-hopping" across the Bering Straits or the Greenland region—both of which were temperate habitat at that time—and from which continent they dispersed to which, or if both continents brought forth distinct subtribes which then spread to the other, is not known and would probably require more fossil material to be resolved. In any case, the fairly comprehensive fossil record of Europe—at the relevant time separated from Asia by the Turgai Sea—lacks ancient Marmotini except the indeterminate ''Palaeosciurus'', which might be taken to indicate an East Asian or western North American origin with trans-Beringia dispersal being the slightly more satisfying hypothesis. This is also supported by the enigmatic Chinese genus ''Sciurotamias'', which may be the most ancient living lineage of this group, or—if the chipmunks are not included here—close to the common ancestor of the Tamiini and the Marmotini ''sensu stricto''.

In any case, expansion of the Marmotini to Africa was probably prevented by competitive exclusion by their close relatives the Protoxerini and Xerini—the native terrestrial and palm squirrels of that continent, which must have evolved at the same time as the Marmotini did.

Size

Ground squirrels can measure anywhere from about in height up to nearly . They can weigh between and .

Habitat

Open areas including rocky outcrops, fields, pastures, and sparsely wooded hillsides comprise their habitat. Ground squirrels also live in grassy areas such as pastures, golf courses, cemeteries, and parks.

Diet

Ground squirrels are omnivorous, and not only eat a diet rich in fungi, nuts, fruits, and seeds, but also occasionally eat insects, eggs, and other small animals. They are known to eat rats and mice several times their size.

Subtribes and genera

Basal and ''incertae sedis'' genera
* '' Palaeosciurus'' (fossil)
* ''Callospermophilus''
* ''Notocitellus''
* ''Otospermophilus'' (American rock squirrels)
* ''Poliocitellus'' (Franklin's ground squirrel)
* ''Sciurotamias'' (Chinese rock squirrels)
* ''Urocitellus''
* ''Xerospermophilus''
Subtribe Tamiina: chipmunks (might be full tribe)
* ''Eutamias''
* ''Neotamias''
* ''Nototamias'' (fossil)
* ''Tamias''
Subtribe Marmotina: marmots and prairie dogs
* '' Arctomyoides'' (fossil)
* '' Miospermophilus'' (fossil)
* ''Paenemarmota'' (fossil)
* '' Palaearctomys'' (fossil)
* '' Protospermophilus'' (fossil)
* '' Marmota''
* ''Cynomys'' (prairie dogs)
Subtribe Spermophilina: true ground squirrels
* '' Spermophilinus'' (fossil)
* '' Ammospermophilus''
* ''Ictidomys'': Thirteen-lined ground squirrel and related species
* ''Spermophilus''

Cladogram

Below is a cladogram of ground squirrels (tribe Marmotini) derived from maximum parsimony analysis.

See also

*Xerini - the related "ground squirrels" of Asia and Africa
*Tree squirrel

References

Further reading

*
* (2004): "Nuclear DNA phylogeny of the squirrels (Mammalia: Rodentia) and the evolution of arboreality from c-myc and RAG1". '' Mol. Phyl. Evol.'' 30(3): 703–719. PDF fulltext
* (2005): Family Sciuridae. In: ''Mammal Species of the World—A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference'': 754–818. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ground Squirrel
01
Mammals of Asia
Mammals of North America
Extant Rupelian first appearances
Taxa named by R. I. Pocock