Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Science/2018 June 6

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June 6

Golden-mantled ground squirrel or Palmer's Chipmunk?

Don't call me "Palmer", my friends call me "Goldie"

I uploaded the photo at right to Commons, believing it was a Palmer's Chipmunk; it was taken at 8500 feet in the Spring Mountains, three miles away from Charleston Peak, which I believe to be prime territory for that species. Looking at images on Golden-mantled ground squirrel, I'm questioning that identification, but I'm not sure enough one way or the other to have the image renamed. Can someone help identify this individual?--Prosfilaes (talk) 19:31, 6 June 2018 (UTC)

Definitely looks like a Golden Mantle Ground Squirrel to me, especially when comparing to the Palmer's Chipmunk photo. But I'm not an expert. --Trovatore (talk) 22:06, 6 June 2018 (UTC)

I found some images of the Palmer's Chipmunk via the Clark County, NV government website, and it certainly looks much different (lighter tail coloration, a more reddish face) than your photo. --UltravioletAlien (talk) 03:58, 7 June 2018 (UTC)

Thanks; I had it renamed on Commons.--Prosfilaes (talk) 20:22, 7 June 2018 (UTC)

Honestly I'm not sure there's enough evidence either way. --Trovatore (talk) 20:36, 7 June 2018 (UTC)

The Golden-mantled ground squirrel article says "This species is distinguished from similar ground squirrels by a black-bordered white stripe down each side of the back" In this photo we see a black-bordered white stripe on one side. By contrast, the Palmer's chipmunk we display [1] appears to have a black-bordered white stripe dorsally, but no black border on the lateral white stripe that I can see. Also notice a very different coloration around the eyes. Wnt (talk) 15:03, 8 June 2018 (UTC)