ground squirrel; Daurian ground squirrel
Refers to ground squirrels, especially the Daurian ground squirrel (Spermophilus dauricus). The word is usually written in katakana.
Ground squirrels dig burrows in grasslands.
The Daurian ground squirrel inhabits northern China and Mongolia.
Katakana spelling is usual for this animal name; usually written in kana.
Kanji spelling is rare and may not be widely recognized; the word is usually written in kana.
The word is a compound of 畑 (hata, 'field') and 栗鼠 (risu, 'squirrel'), literally 'field squirrel'. The reading はたりす is a straightforward combination of the two elements.