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Urocitellus richardsonii

(Sabine, 1822)

Richardson's Ground Squirrel

G5Secure Found in 9 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.100987
Element CodeAMAFB05040
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassMammalia
OrderRodentia
FamilySciuridae
GenusUrocitellus
Synonyms
Spermophilus richardsonii(Sabine, 1822)
Other Common Names
Spermophile de Richardson (FR)
Concept Reference
Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder (editors). 1993. Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Second edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. xviii + 1206 pp. Available online at: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/msw/.
Taxonomic Comments
Recent molecular phylogenetic studies suggest that the traditionally recognized genera Marmota (marmots), Cynomys (prairie dogs), and Ammospermophilus (antelope ground squirrels) render Spermophilus paraphyletic, potentially suggesting that multiple generic-level lineages should be credited within Spermophilus (Helgen et al. 2009). As a result, ground squirrels formerly allocated to the genus Spermophilus (sensu Thorington and Hoffman, in Wilson and Reeder 2005) are now classified in 8 genera (Notocitellus, Otospermophilus, Callospermophilus, Ictidomys, Poliocitellus, Xerospermophilus, and Urocitellus). Spermophilus sensu stricto is restricted to Eurasia.

Urocitellus elegans formerly was included in this species (Zegers 1984). Several studies have demonstrated the specific distinctness of U. elegans and U. richardsonii (see Hoffmann et al., in Wilson and Reeder 1993).
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-04-05
Change Date1996-11-06
Range Extent Comments
Northern Great Plains; southern Alberta, southern Saskatchewan, southern Manitoba, Montana, North Dakota, northeastern South Dakota, western Minnesota, and northwestern Iowa (Hoffmann et al., in Wilson and Reeder 1993).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Grasslands, rolling hills, fields and croplands. Prefers gravelly or sandy soils for digging burrows. Burrows consist of extensive network of passages and entrances with several chambers. Young are born in underground nests. The nests are spherical and are lined with grasses in which straw or oat hulls may be found (Jones et al. 1983).

Ecology

Lives in loose colonies. Home range probably is not larger than 100 yds in diameter (Banfield 1974). Densities of 10/acre are considered average but may range higher (Jones et al. 1983). May host fleas that transmit bubonic plague. In Alberta, larvae of the sarcophagid fly NEOBELLIERIA CITELLIVORA caused lethal cutaneous myiasis, especially in juveniles (Michener, 1993, J. Mamm. 74:148-155).

Reproduction

Females typically mate 3-5 days after emergence from hibernation, give birth 22-23 days later. Litter size is 3-11, usually 6-8. Young first leave natal burrow at 28-30 days, sexually mature in 1 year (Michener 1985). Females live up to 6 years.
Terrestrial Habitats
Grassland/herbaceousCropland/hedgerow
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
South DakotaS5Yes
North DakotaSNRYes
MinnesotaS3Yes
IowaS3Yes
MontanaS5Yes
CanadaN5
ProvinceRankNative
SaskatchewanS5Yes
ManitobaS5Yes
AlbertaS4Yes
Roadless Areas (9)
Montana (9)
AreaForestAcres
Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - SwanLewis and Clark National Forest344,022
Big Snowy Mountains WsaLewis and Clark National Forest88,003
BridgerGallatin National Forest45,059
Crazy MountainGallatin National Forest82,093
Gallatin FringeGallatin National Forest51,571
Hyalite - Porcupine - Buffalo Horn Wilderness Study AreaGallatin National Forest143,991
MadisonGallatin National Forest127,859
Middle Fork Judith WsaLewis and Clark National Forest81,131
North AbsarokaGallatin National Forest159,075
References (21)
  1. American Society of Mammalogists (ASM). 2024. The Mammal Diversity Database (MDD). Online. Available: www.mammaldiversity.org
  2. Banfield, A. W. F. 1974. The mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press, Toronto, Canada. 438 pp.
  3. Drabek, C. M. 1973. Home range and daily activity of the round-tailed ground squirrel, <i>Spermophilus tereticaudus neglectus</i>. American Midland Naturalist 89:287-93.
  4. Evans, F. C., and R. Holdenried. 1943. A population study of the Beechey ground squirrel in central California. Journal of Mammalogy 24:231-260.
  5. Hafner, D. J. 1992. Speciation and persistence of a contact zone in Mojave Desert ground squirrels, subgenus <i>Xerospermophilus</i>. Journal of Mammalogy 73:770-778.
  6. Harris, J. H., and P. Leitner. 2004. Home-range size and use of space by adult Mohave ground squirrels, <i>Spermophilus mohavensis</i>. Journal of Mammalogy 85:517-523.
  7. Helgen, K. M., F. R. Cole, L. E. Helgen, and D. E. Wilson. 2009. Generic revision in the holarctic ground squirrel genus <i>Spermophilus</i>. Journal of Mammalogy 90(2):270-305.
  8. Johnson, K. 1981. Social organization in a colony of rock squirrels (<i>Spermophilus variegatus</i>). Southwestern Naturalist 26:237-242.
  9. Jones, J. K., Jr., D. M. Armstrong, R. S. Hoffmann, and C. Jones. 1983. Mammals of the Northern Great Plains. University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, Nebraska.
  10. Jones, J. K., Jr., R. S. Hoffman, D. W. Rice, C. Jones, R. J. Baker, and M. D. Engstrom. 1992a. Revised checklist of North American mammals north of Mexico, 1991. Occasional Papers, The Museum, Texas Tech University, 146:1-23.
  11. Michener, G. R. 1985. Chronology of reproductive events for female Richardson's ground squirrels. J. Mamm. 66:280- 288.
  12. Morton, M. L., C. S. Maxwell, and C. E. Wade. 1974. Body size, body composition, and behavior of juvenile Belding ground squirrels. Great Basin Naturalist 34:121-134.
  13. Murie, J. O. 1973. Population characteristics and phenology of a Franklin ground squirrel <i>(Spermophilus franklinii)</i> colony in central Alberta. American Midland Naturalist 90:334-40.
  14. Murie, J. O., and G. R. Michener, editors. 1984. The biology of ground-dwelling squirrels: annual cycles, behavioral ecology and sociality. Univ. Nebraska Press, Lincoln. xvi + 459 pp.
  15. Murie, J. O., and M. A. Harris. 1978. Territoriality and dominance in male Columbian ground squirrels (<i>Spermophilus columbianus</i>). Canadian Journal of Zoology 56:2402-12
  16. Olson, G. S., and B. Van Horne. 1998. Dispersal patterns of juvenile Townsend's ground squirrels in southwestern Idaho. Canadian Journal of Zoology 76:2084-2089.
  17. Owings, D. H., M. Borchert, and R. A. Virginia. 1977. The behaviour of California ground squirrels. Animal Behaviour 25:221-30.
  18. Recht, M. A. 1977. The biology of the Mohave ground squirrel (<i>Spermophilus mohavensis</i>): home range, daily activity, foraging and weight gain, and thermoregulatory behavior. Ph.D. dissertation, University of California, Los Angeles. 117 pp.
  19. Slade, N. A., and D. F. Balph. 1974. Population ecology of Uinta ground squirrels. Ecology 55:989-1003.
  20. Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder (editors). 1993. Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Second edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. xviii + 1206 pp. Available online at: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/msw/.
  21. Zegers, D. A. 1984. SPERMOPHILUS ELEGANS. Mammalian Species, 214:1-7.