Ground squirrel

Japanese: ジリス(地栗鼠) - ジリス（英語表記）ground squirrel

A type of terrestrial squirrel that lives in burrows in the grasslands, rocky areas, and deserts of Eurasia and North America. A general term for a mammalian species belonging to the genus Citellus ( Spermophilus ) of the family Sciuridae in the order Rodentia. It looks similar to a chipmunk, but its body is larger, its limbs and tail are shorter, and its claws on the limbs are stronger, making it better suited to digging holes. Its ears are usually small and mostly hidden by the hair on its head. Its body color is gray-brown or sandy, except for its yellow or white underside, and it has stripes or white spots similar to those of a chipmunk.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

ユーラシアと北アメリカの草原，岩地，砂漠に，穴を掘ってすむ地上生のリス類。齧歯（げつし）目リス科ジリス属Citellus(＝Spermophilus)に属する哺乳類の総称。姿はシマリスに似るが，体が大きく，手足と尾が短く，手足のつめは強大でより穴を掘るのに適した体をしている。耳はふつう小さく，ほとんど頭の毛に隠れる。体色は黄色ないし白色の腹面を除き，灰褐色あるいは砂色で，シマリスに似た縞模様あるいは白斑がある。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

<<: Silistra (English spelling)

>>: Siris - Siris