Image of Rock Squirrel

Description:

Rock Squirrel is an animal of parts of the western U.S. and Mexico. It occurs from central Texas, western Oklahoma and Kansas west to Nevada and Arizona. Most field guides illustrate the lighter forms or morphs of this species which look much like the animal at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/7457894@N04/4604937913 The ones in central Texas are often darker and many look like: http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/1087231 I have Rock Squirrels around my house as residents, about 15 miles west of Austin and have photographed them several times for iNat on a rock pile near where I have a sunflower seed bird feeder. The Rock Squirrels often take advantage of the seed which falls down in the rocks. Some shots of the ones at my house are at: http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/836466 http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/689989 http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/487741 The past few days perhaps the blackest Rock Squirrel I've ever seen has been hanging around. I got a few shots this afternoon through my home office window. Very dark lighting conditions, but the overall blackness of the animal is evident. Just parts of its flanks, sides, and underbelly are gray, the rest of him (or her) is quite black.