Ring-tailed ground squirrel

The ring-tailed ground squirrel (Notocitellus annulatus) is a ground squirrel of the family Sciuridae that lives only along the Pacific coast of central Mexico, in a range running from the state of Nayarit to the state of Guerrero. Adults measure roughly 38 to 47 centimetres from nose to tail tip, and about half of that length is tail. The hair on the crown and back is a mix of blackish brown and buff, the chin, throat and underparts are buff, the incisors are orange and the large cheek pouches open inside the mouth. The slender, not bushy, tail carries about fifteen dark rings, which gives the species its name. It is a lowland animal found up to about 1,200 metres, living in deciduous forest, on rocky slopes, along the borders of cultivated fields, in oil palm plantations and in mesquite scrub. Its burrows are often in walls or dykes or hidden under cacti and scrub, and it sometimes uses holes in trees. It forages mostly on the ground for fruit, nuts and seeds, including wild figs, mesquite seeds and prickly pears, and it may also take insects. Breeding takes place in the dry season between December and June. The species is common within its range and the IUCN rates it as Least Concern.