Arctic Ground Squirrel
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| Spermophilus parryii Richardson, 1825 |
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S. parryii ablusus |
The Arctic Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus parryii) is a species of ground squirrel native to the Arctic.
[edit] Background
Called Siksiks by the Inuits, the Arctic Ground Squirrels live in colonies and are the only Arctic animals that hibernate. In the spring and summer they forage for tundra plants, seeds and fruit to increase body fat for their winter hibernation. By late summer they begin to store food in their burrows so that in the spring they will have edible food until the new vegetation has grown.
The burrows are lined with lichens, leaves and musk ox hair. During hibernation their body temperature drops to just above freezing and their heartbeat drops. They are prey to arctic foxes and eagles
[edit] References
- Cook (2000). Spermophilus parryii. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006.
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