Two years ago, I noticed a touristy website that tried to pass off a Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel as being a Chipmunk (posting). Fascinated by this ineptitude, I searched stock-photo sites and discovered that it wasn’t uncommon to label pictures of a Golden-mantle Ground Squirrel as being a Chipmunk. As I noted at the time, one should not turn to stock-photo companies for biological insights.
The mistake is easy to make if the viewer applies an algorithm for squirrels: stripes mean chipmunk. The problem is that it isn’t true. While the chipmunk has multiple white stripes that extend from its back to its head (another example), the much larger Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel has two white stripes, one on each side, and neither extends to its head.
A Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel enjoys a snack high in a subalpine forest. The single white stripe on either side does not extend to the head.
The reason for the designaton of golden mantle isn’t always obvious, but here the golden pelage on the head and shoulders is abundantly clear.
