Ground Squirrel - Panjin, Liaoning, China (1 Viewer)

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Owen Krout

Well-known member

• Sep 13, 2017

• #1

These ground squirrels are scattered throughout the Panjin Wetland Park, Panjin, Liaoning, China. I at first thought these were Daurian Ground Squirrel and it is difficult to find images online but the face seems blunter and broader, the eyes larger and the 'faint white eye ring, extending to the ear' doesn't seem to apply.

Thought maybe somebody here would know.

 

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Andy Adcock

Worst person on Birdforum

• Sep 13, 2017

• #2

I think it looks OK for Daurian?


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Owen Krout

Well-known member

• Sep 13, 2017

• #3

I have no experience with all these Old World species and many times it is difficult to find any good information for what can be found in China. Daurian it is then!

 

Andy Adcock

Worst person on Birdforum

• Sep 14, 2017

• #4

Owen Krout said:

I have no experience with all these Old World species and many times it is difficult to find any good information for what can be found in China. Daurian it is then!

Click to expand...

FWIW, I thought the nose was wide too but it's probably dirty, It's not a Pika so choices are two with Alashan being the other?

A tail shot may have been useful.


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rockfowl

Mark Andrews

• Sep 14, 2017

• #5

Why are they not Pere David's?

 

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Owen Krout

Well-known member

• Sep 14, 2017

• #6

rockfowl said:

Why are they not Pere David's?

Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestion, rockfowl, but I can definitively eliminate PD. These have a 'chunkier' body with a thick neck and only a stub tail. Also not living in the typical rocky environment. Holes are dug directly into the flat ground seen in pic and have no built up area around the entrances unlike the American Prairie Dogs that they resemble. Panjin area is a very large, deep alluvial plain with few exposed rocks anywhere.

 

rockfowl

Mark Andrews

• Sep 15, 2017

• #7

Fair enough Owen. My suggestion was based on the limited angle of the images and it's alertness, ears back etc. There wasn't a lot to go on so the suggestion was made as a just in case. Habitat as you suggest is wrong for PDS.

 

Bryon Wright

Well-known member

• Sep 16, 2017

• #8

Hi all,
picked up a very old copy of Tate's Mammals of Eastern Asia just yesterday. Tate gives mention of the Chinese form, C. dauricus mongolicus with a more pallid winter pelt. Also a C.d. ramosus of the province of Kirin is mentioned but without any description.