Spotted ground squirrel
Spotted ground squirrel | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Conservation status | |
![]() Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1] | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Rodentia |
Family: | Sciuridae |
Genus: | Xerospermophilus |
Species: | X. spilosoma |
Binomial name | |
Xerospermophilus spilosoma (Bennett, 1833) | |
Synonyms | |
Spermophilus spilosoma Bennet, 1833 |
The spotted ground squirrel (Xerospermophilus spilosoma) is a species of ground squirrel in the rodent family Sciuridae. It is found throughout Mexico and the central and western United States. Characterized by a white spotted back, the spotted ground squirrel is one of the smallest squirrels found in North America. They are mainly herbivorous, but also eat insects. A burrowing mammal, the spotted ground squirrel will make tunnels to store its food, as well as shelter and hibernation quarters.[2]
Description
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/Spotted_Ground_Squirrel_8338vv.jpg/220px-Spotted_Ground_Squirrel_8338vv.jpg)
The spotted ground squirrel is one of the smallest squirrels to inhabit the northern hemisphere. It has many white linear dorsal spots, as well as a white underbelly. Coloration of the rest of its body varies greatly and can be different shades of brown, black, gray and white. Its skull resembles that of the thirteen-lined ground squirrel, but is slightly broader in the interorbital and rostral regions. A unique characteristic of the skull is the presence of especially large auditory bullae. X. spilosoma has two pelages and molts each year. Adults emerging from hibernation usually display thicker pelages, which are shed by the springtime. Juveniles tend to have darker pelages than their adult counterparts. Fur color can be influenced by environmental surrounds, and it has been found that populations in soil rich areas tend to have darker colorings than grassland living populations.[2]
Distribution and habitat
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/Xerospermophilus_spilosoma_distribution_map.png/220px-Xerospermophilus_spilosoma_distribution_map.png)
The spotted ground squirrel can range from south central South Dakota, through Nebraska where it inhabits sand hills present there. It's also found in eastern Colorado, northwestern Oklahoma, western Texas, eastern Arizona, western Kansas, the large majority of New Mexico and the southeastern part of Utah. Mexico species distribution is limited to south and central Mexico. It is generally found within areas of deep sand soils where vegetation is sparse and scattered, aligning with the environments of the distributive areas it is found in. Being a burrowing animal, the spotted ground squirrel will inhabit sand hills and dunes where it makes it home and has even been found to dwell within abandoned prairie dog burrows. Spotted ground squirrel burrows are usually found on short grass mesa's or along the banks of rivers. They prefer lighter, more sparse soil to create their burrows with and this is why they dwell in arid, dry landscapes that contain this type of soil.[2]
Diet
The spotted ground squirrel is a herbivore and feeds on seeds and green plant parts. It is generally not to be considered a carnivore. Green grass shoots are consumed in the spring and eventually the flowers and seeds of green plants that arise in the summer. The spotted ground squirrel can also display Insectivore like habits within its diet in the late summer by feeding on mainly Grasshopper larvae.[2]
Behavior
Though the spotted ground squirrel is considered to be generally a burrowing mammal which spends a large portion of its time in hibernation, it spends a majority of its above-ground activity foraging and feeding on food resources. With the rest of its time being dedicated to alert calls, maintenance behavior (resting, sun bathing, grooming) and sexual behavior in males and females. During their mating season sexual behavior plays a larger role in its above ground activity, involving a 'frenzy' like pattern of males entering and exiting their burrows sporadically, most likely observed as a type of courting behavior. The spotted ground squirrel have 7 different alert postures used to warn others about likely predators in the area or to stake a territory claim against other males during mating seasons. Hibernation behavior has been observed to begin in late July and go all the way through to April and May. Seasonal activity cycles occurs during the months of April/May through July/August and is estimated to be 115–135 days for males and 95–125 days for females.[2]
References
- ^ Lacher, T.; Timm, R.; Álvarez-Castañeda, S.T. (2016). "Xerospermophilus spilosoma". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T42563A22262899. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T42563A22262899.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Streubel, Donald; Fitzgerald, James (1978). "Spermophilus spilosoma". Mammalian Species (101): 1–4. doi:10.2307/3503894. JSTOR 3503894.
- v
- t
- e
(antelope squirrels)
- Harris's antelope squirrel (A. harrisii)
- Espíritu Santo antelope squirrel (A. insularis)
- Texas antelope squirrel (A. interpres)
- White-tailed antelope squirrel (A. leucurus)
- San Joaquin antelope squirrel (A. nelsoni)
(golden-mantled ground squirrels)
- Golden-mantled ground squirrel (C. lateralis)
- Sierra Madre ground squirrel (C. madrensis)
- Cascade golden-mantled ground squirrel (C. saturatus)
(prairie dogs)
- Gunnison's prairie dog (C. gunnisoni)
- White-tailed prairie dog (C. leucurus)
- Black-tailed prairie dog (C. ludovicianus)
- Mexican prairie dog (C. mexicanus)
- Utah prairie dog (C. parvidens)
- Siberian chipmunk (E. sibiricus)
(little ground squirrels)
- Mexican ground squirrel (I. mexicanus)
- Rio Grande ground squirrel (I. parvidens)
- Thirteen-lined ground squirrel (I. tridecemlineatus)
(marmots)
- Bobak marmot (M. bobak)
- Alaska marmot (M. broweri)
- Black-capped marmot (M. camtschatica)
- Long-tailed marmot (M. caudata)
- Himalayan marmot (M. himalayana)
- Alpine marmot (M. marmota)
- Menzbier's marmot (M. menzbieri)
- Groundhog or woodchuck (M. monax)
- Tarbagan marmot (M. sibirica)
Subgenus Petromarmota: Hoary marmot (M. caligata) - Yellow-bellied marmot (M. flaviventris)
- Olympic marmot (M. olympus)
- Vancouver Island marmot (M. vancouverensis)
(western chipmunks)
- Tropical ground squirrel (N. adocetus)
- Ring-tailed ground squirrel (N. annulatus)
(rock squirrels)
- Baja California rock squirrel (O. atricapillus)
- California ground squirrel (O. beecheyi)
- Rock squirrel (O. variegatus)
- Franklin's ground squirrel (P. franklinii)
(Asian rock squirrels)
- Père David's rock squirrel (S. davidianus)
- Forrest's rock squirrel (S. forresti)
(Old World ground squirrels)
- Alashan ground squirrel (S. alashanicus)
- Brandt’s ground squirrel (S. brevicauda)
- European ground squirrel (S. citellus)
- Daurian ground squirrel (S. dauricus)
- Red-cheeked ground squirrel (S. erythrogenys)
- Yellow ground squirrel (S. fulvus)
- Russet ground squirrel (S. major)
- Caucasian mountain ground squirrel (S. musicus)
- Tian Shan ground squirrel (S. nilkaensis)
- Pallid ground squirrel (S. pallidicauda)
- Little ground squirrel (S. pygmaeus)
- Relict ground squirrel (S. relictus)
- Speckled ground squirrel (Spermophilus suslicus)
- Taurus ground squirrel (Spermophilus taurensis)
- Asia Minor ground squirrel (Spermophilus xanthoprymnus)
- Eastern chipmunk (T. striatus)
(Holarctic ground squirrels)
- Uinta ground squirrel (U. armatus)
- Belding's ground squirrel (U. beldingi)
- Northern Idaho ground squirrel (U. brunneus)
- Merriam's ground squirrel (U. canus)
- Columbian ground squirrel (U. columbianus)
- Wyoming ground squirrel (U. elegans)
- Southern Idaho ground squirrel (U. endemicus)
- Piute ground squirrel (U. mollis)
- Arctic ground squirrel (U. parryii)
- Richardson's ground squirrel (U. richardsonii)
- Townsend's ground squirrel (U. townsendii)
- Long-tailed ground squirrel (U. undulatus)
- Washington ground squirrel (U. washingtoni)
(pygmy ground squirrels)
- Mohave ground squirrel (X. mohavensis)
- Perote ground squirrel (X. perotensis)
- Spotted ground squirrel (X. spilosoma)
- Round-tailed ground squirrel (X. tereticaudus)