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Arctic Ground Squirrel
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  Name Arctic Ground Squirrel
  Regnum Animal ia
  Phylum Chordata
  Subphylum Vertebrata
  Classis Mammal ia
  Ordo Rodentia
  Familia Sciuridae
  Genus '' Spermophilus ''
  Species '''''S parryii'''''
  Binomial ''Spermophilus parryii''
  Binomial Authority Richardson , 1825
  Subdivision Ranks Subspecies
  Subdivision ''S parryii ablusus''<br/>


The Arctic Ground Squirrel (''Spermophilus parryii'') is a species of ground Squirrel native to the Arctic .


BACKGROUND

They 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.