Abstract
Chromo-somes of 3 species of ground squirrel were analyzed using a colcemide, hypotonic citrate, acetic orcein squash method. The diploid (2n) number was 30 in Spermophilus beldingi beldingi, 34 in S. tridecemlineatus tridecemlineatus and 36 in S. tereticaudus neglectus. Karyo-grams were compared with those of S. richardsonii elegans (2n=34) and S. mexicanus parvidens (2n=34). Karyograms of S. tridecemlineatus and S. mexicanus were similar but S. richardsonii and S. beldingi differed in chromosome number and sex chromosome morphology. The utilization of chromsome analysis in comparative taxonomy is discussed.

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