Spermophilus tridecemlineatus, commonly known as the Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel, is brown in color with a series of alternating dark and light longitudinal stripes and rows of light spots across its upper parts. It has short legs and large internal cheek pouches to carry food. Length of the head and body is 11-16 cm and the tail is 6-13 cm.

Its diet consists of seeds, roots, green vegetation, insects, eggs and other small animals. Ground squirrels are active during the day and are generally solitary. They construct long shallow burrows with multiple entrances to store food.

Mating occurs in April after emerging from hibernation. Each litter consists of 5-13 young.

It inhabits the Great Plains, from C Texas to E Utah, Ohio (USA) to SC Canada.