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Project Noah Nature School
Ammospermophilus harrisii
A true desert squirrel. At first glance it can be mistaken for a Chipmunk. Small in size and full of energy. Ears pressed to it's body, mostly a grayish color with a white underside. Reddish brown on legs.Bold white stripe a long it's flank. No stripes on face. Their body temp is higher then other squirrels so they can tolerate the heat. When it gets too hot they spread out in a shaded spot and to do what is called "heat dumping". Their tail is used to provide some shade. They feed on cactus flowers and fruit, beans of Mesquite and will also feed on insects smaller mammals and carrion.
Found mostly in Arizona and New Mexico and NW Mexico. This one was found in the rocky edges of the desert in the Barry Goldwater Bombing Range.
Spotted on Jan 31, 2016
Submitted on Feb 4, 2016
5 Comments
This was on the Bombing range. We stopped for lunch here. Also saw a Black tailed Gnatcatcher, Side blotched lizard and heard a Canyon Wren.
Thank you guys. I was going to have the #2 be first but may have confused the species.
Love pic #2
LOVE THE SERIES! I have learned from experience on how hard these guys are to photograph, i used to live in AZ.
Nice series.