Arctic ground squirrel (Spermophilus parryii)
Arctic ground squirrels shelter in shallow burrows on the tundra, usually inhabiting areas where the permafrost does not prevent digging. To survive the harsh arctic winters, they hibernate for seven months of the year, during which time their body temperature can sink below freezing.
What do they sound like?
About the Arctic ground squirrel
The Arctic Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus parryii) (sicsic, the Inuit term) is a species of ground squirrel native to the Arctic.
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Common Names
- Sik-sik
- Tsik-tsik
The Arctic ground squirrel is
- Able to hibernate
- Able to scent mark
- Capable of torpor
- Colonial
- Helpless at birth
- Hierarchical
- Social
- Viviparous
Adaptation data provided by Animal Diversity Web
Where can I see them?
They can be found in the following habitats:
Conservation Status
The Arctic ground squirrel is Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
- EX - Extinct
- EW
- CR - Threatened
- EN - Threatened
- VU - Threatened
- NT
- LC - Least concern
Population trend: Unknown
Year assessed: 2008
Elsewhere on the web
- Spermophilus parryii (animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu)
- Yukon Government fact file (environmentyukon.gov.yk.ca)
- IUCN Red List information (iucnredlist.org)
- NatureWorks fact file (nhptv.org)
- Alaskan Department of Fish and Game: fun facts (wc.adfg.state.ak.us)
- Arctic Ground Squirrel (wikipedia.org)
Site links
BBC links
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