''Nototamias'' is a genus of fossil

ground squirrel 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 ...

s from the

Miocene The Miocene ( ) is the first geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about (Ma). The Miocene was named by Scottish geologist Charles Lyell; the name comes from the Greek words (', "less") and (', "new") and means "less recen ...

of North America. Species include ''Nototamias hulberti'' Pratt and Morgan, 1989; ''Nototamias ateles'' (Hall, 1930); and ''Nototamias complicatus'' Korth, 1992. Although the genus, characterized by fused roots on the lower cheekteeth, is often regarded as closely related to the

chipmunk Chipmunks are small, striped rodents of the family Sciuridae. Chipmunks are found in North America, with the exception of the Siberian chipmunk which is found primarily in Asia. Taxonomy and systematics Chipmunks may be classified either as ...

s, and ''N. ateles'' has even been regarded as a species of ''

Tamias ''Tamias'' is a genus of chipmunks in the tribe Marmotini of the squirrel family. The genus includes a single living species, the eastern chipmunk (''Tamias striatus''). The genus name ''Tamias'' ( el, ταμίας) means "treasurer", "steward", ...

'', evidence for this relationship is poor and ''Nototamias'' may instead be near the origin of the Marmotini.Goodwin, 2008, p. 356

References

Literature cited

*Goodwin, H.T. 2008. Sciuridae. Pp. 255–376 in Janis, C.M., Gunnell, G.F. and Uhen, M.D. (eds.). Evolution of Tertiary Mammals of North America. Volume 2: Small Mammals, Xenarthrans, and Marine Mammals. Cambridge University Press, 802 pp. {{Taxonbar, from=Q7063278 Ground squirrels Prehistoric rodent genera Fossil taxa described in 1989