Editing Ground squirrel (section)

{{Short description|Type of ground-dwelling rodent}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| name = Ground squirrel
| fossil_range = [[Rupelian|Early Oligocene]] to recent
| image = Yer sincabı.jpg
| image_caption = Ground squirrel in [[Turkey]]
| taxon = Marmotini
| authority = [[Reginald Innes Pocock|Pocock]], 1923
| subdivision_ranks = [[Genera]]
| subdivision = 
''[[Palaeosciurus]]'' ([[fossil]])<BR>
''[[Sciurotamias]]''<BR>
''[[Spermophilinus]]'' (fossil)<BR>
''[[Ammospermophilus]]''<BR>
''[[Spermophilus]]''<BR>
''[[Notocitellus]]''<BR>
''[[Otospermophilus]]''<BR>
''[[Callospermophilus]]''<BR>
''[[Xerospermophilus]]''<BR>
''[[Cynomys]]''<BR>
''[[Poliocitellus]]''<BR>
''[[Ictidomys]]''<BR>
''[[Arctomyoides]]'' (fossil)<BR>
''[[Miospermophilus]]'' (fossil)<BR>
''[[Paenemarmota]]'' (fossil)<BR>
''[[Palaearctomys]]'' (fossil)<BR>
''[[Protospermophilus]]'' (fossil)<BR>
''[[Marmota]]''<BR>
''[[Eutamias]]''<BR>
''[[Neotamias]]''<BR>
''[[Nototamias]]'' (fossil)<BR>
''[[Tamias]]''<BR>
''[[Urocitellus]]''<BR>
and see [[#Subtribes and genera|text]]
}}
'''Ground squirrels''' are [[rodent]]s of the [[squirrel]] family ([[Sciuridae]]) that generally live on the ground or in [[burrow]]s, rather than in trees like the [[tree squirrel]]s. The term is most often used for the medium-sized ground squirrels, as the larger ones are more commonly known as [[marmots]] (genus ''Marmota'') or [[prairie dogs]], while the smaller and less bushy-tailed ground squirrels tend to be known as [[chipmunk]]s (genus ''Tamias'').

Together, they make up the "marmot [[Tribe (biology)|tribe]]" of squirrels, '''Marmotini''', a [[clade]] within the large and mainly ground squirrel [[subfamily]] [[Xerinae]], and containing six living [[genera]]. Well-known members of this largely [[Holarctic]] group are the [[marmot]]s (''Marmota''), including the American [[groundhog]], the [[chipmunk]]s, the [[suslik]]s (''Spermophilus''), and the [[prairie dog]]s (''Cynomys''). They are highly variable in size and [[Morphology (biology)|habitus]], but most are remarkably able to rise up on their hind legs and [[upright posture|stand fully erect]] comfortably for prolonged periods. They also tend to be far more gregarious than other squirrels, and many live in colonies with complex social structures. Most Marmotini are rather short-tailed and large squirrels. At up to {{cvt|8|kg}} or more, certain marmots are the heaviest squirrels.<ref name="Krystufek2013">{{cite journal | author1=Kryštufek, B. | author2=B. Vohralík | year=2013 | title=Taxonomic revision of the Palaearctic rodents (Rodentia). Part 2. Sciuridae: Urocitellus, Marmota and Sciurotamias | journal=Lynx, N. S. (Praha) | volume=44 | pages=27–138 }}</ref><ref name="Armitage2002">{{cite book | author1=Armitage, K.B. | author2=Blumstein, D.T. | year=2002 | chapter=Body-mass diversity in marmots. Holarctic marmots as a factor of biodiversity | editor1=K.B. Armitage | editor2=V.Yu. Rumiantsev | title=Holarctic Marmots as a Factor of Biodiversity | publisher=ABF Publishing House | pages=22–32 }}</ref>

The [[chipmunk]]s of the genus ''Tamias'' frequently spend time in trees. Also closer to typical squirrels in other aspects, they are occasionally considered a tribe of their own (Tamiini).<ref>Steppan ''et al.'' (2004)</ref>