Notocitellus
Encyclopedia
Notocitellus is a genus
of ground squirrel
s, containing two species. These species are the tropical ground squirrel
(Notocitellus adocetus), and the ring-tailed ground squirrel
(N. annulatus). Notocitellus was formerly placed in the large ground squirrel genus Spermophilus
, as a subgenus
or species group. Since DNA sequencing
of the cytochrome b
gene has shown Spermophilus to be paraphyletic to the marmot
s, antelope squirrel
s, and prairie dog
s, it is now separated, along with six other genera. The exact relations of this genus are unclear, though a relation to the antelope squirrels is possible.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of ground squirrel
Ground squirrel
The ground squirrels are members of the squirrel family of rodents which generally live on or in the ground, rather than trees. The term is most often used for the medium-sized ground squirrels, as the larger ones are more commonly known as marmots or prairie dogs, while the smaller and less...
s, containing two species. These species are the tropical ground squirrel
Tropical Ground Squirrel
The tropical ground squirrel is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family. It is endemic to upland shrub in northern Mexico....
(Notocitellus adocetus), and the ring-tailed ground squirrel
Ring-tailed Ground Squirrel
The ring-tailed ground squirrel is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family. It is endemic to the Pacific coast region of central Mexico....
(N. annulatus). Notocitellus was formerly placed in the large ground squirrel genus Spermophilus
Spermophilus
Spermophilus is a genus of ground squirrels in the family Sciuridae. The majority of ground squirrel species, over 40 in total, are usually placed in this genus...
, as a subgenus
Subgenus
In biology, a subgenus is a taxonomic rank directly below genus.In zoology, a subgeneric name can be used independently or included in a species name, in parentheses, placed between the generic name and the specific epithet: e.g. the Tiger Cowry of the Indo-Pacific, Cypraea tigris Linnaeus, which...
or species group. Since DNA sequencing
DNA sequencing
DNA sequencing includes several methods and technologies that are used for determining the order of the nucleotide bases—adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine—in a molecule of DNA....
of the cytochrome b
Cytochrome b
Cytochrome b/b6 is the main subunit of transmembrane cytochrome bc1 and b6f complexes. In addition, it commonly refers to a region of mtDNA used for population genetics and phylogenetics.- Function :...
gene has shown Spermophilus to be paraphyletic to the marmot
Marmot
The marmots are a genus, Marmota, of squirrels. There are 14 species in this genus.Marmots are generally large ground squirrels. Those most often referred to as marmots tend to live in mountainous areas such as the Alps, northern Apennines, Eurasian steppes, Carpathians, Tatras, and Pyrenees in...
s, antelope squirrel
Antelope squirrel
The antelope squirrels or antelope ground squirrels are the genus Ammospermophilus of sciurids found in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico....
s, and prairie dog
Prairie dog
Prairie dogs are burrowing rodents native to the grasslands of North America. There are five different species of prairie dogs: black-tailed, white-tailed, Gunnison's, Utah and Mexican prairie dogs. They are a type of ground squirrel, found in the United States, Canada and Mexico...
s, it is now separated, along with six other genera. The exact relations of this genus are unclear, though a relation to the antelope squirrels is possible.