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Otospermophilus variegatus

(Erxleben, 1777)

Rock Squirrel

G5Secure Found in 159 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.102556
Element CodeAMAFB05130
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassMammalia
OrderRodentia
FamilySciuridae
GenusOtospermophilus
Synonyms
Spermophilus variegatus(Erxleben, 1777)
Other Common Names
rock squirrel (EN)
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.

See Jones and Manning (1989) for decription of new subspecies tiburonensis from Isla Tiburon, Sonora, Mexico. Thorington and Hoffmann (in Wilson and Reeder 2005) did not recognize tiburonensis as a valid subspecies.
Conservation Status
Review Date1996-11-06
Change Date1996-11-06
Range Extent Comments
Southwestern North America, from southeastern Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and extreme western Oklahoma south through the southwestern U.S. to Jalisco, Michoacan, and Puebla, Mexico. From near sea level to 2900 m (Arizona).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Rocky habitats; cliffs, canyons, hillsides, arroyos, talus slopes, old buildings, bridges, terraced roads, stone walls. Usually not in open plains, wide valleys, deserts, or high montane forest. Burrows under rocks, bushes, trees, etc.

Ecology

Tends to be colonial (maternal aggregation and dominant male, with subordinate males nearby). Home ranges are large, overlap greatly; some studies found average less than 0.5 ha, but radiotelemetric study in southeastern Arizona found spring-summer home range size averaging about 7.9 ha for males, 3.8 ha for females (Ortega 1990); the same values were reported for a population in central New Mexico (Shriner and Stacey 1991). Population density is about 2-13/ha according to Oaks et al. (1987). Density of adult residents was less than 2/ha in central New Mexico (Shriner and Stacey 1991).

Reproduction

In southeastern Arizona, mating occurred mid-April to early July; percentage of lactating females peaked in July-Aug. (Ortega 1990). Gestation probably lasts about 30 days. Parturition occurs April-August. At 1500 m in southeastern Arizona, young first appeared above ground in July (Ortega 1991). Number of young emerging from natal burrow averages about 4. Lactation lasts about 2 months. One litter/year (possibly 2 in south). In southeastern Arizona, about half of yearling females lactated (Ortega 1990).
Terrestrial Habitats
Woodland - ConiferWoodland - MixedShrubland/chaparralSavannaDesertBare rock/talus/screeCliff
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
Navajo NationS5Yes
New MexicoS5Yes
TexasS5Yes
ColoradoS5Yes
ArizonaS5Yes
NevadaS5Yes
UtahS5Yes
OklahomaS1Yes
CaliforniaSNRYes
IdahoS4Yes
Roadless Areas (159)
Arizona (33)
AreaForestAcres
Arnold MesaPrescott National Forest12,286
Big RidgeKaibab National Forest9,087
Black CanyonPrescott National Forest10,683
Black CrossTonto National Forest5,966
BoulderTonto National Forest40,359
Burro CanyonKaibab National Forest19,928
Butterfly Roadless AreaCoronado National Forest42,296
Catalina St. Pk. Roadless AreaCoronado National Forest951
Cdo WsaCoronado National Forest1,955
ChiricahuaCoronado National Forest76,876
GaliuroCoronado National Forest28,333
GoldfieldTonto National Forest15,257
Happy ValleyCoronado National Forest7,972
HellsgateTonto National Forest6,171
Lime CreekTonto National Forest42,568
Lower Dragoon RoadlessCoronado National Forest1,165
Lower RinconCoronado National Forest3,278
MazatzalTonto National Forest16,942
Middle Dragoon RoadlessCoronado National Forest10,543
Middle Romero WSRCoronado National Forest60
Oracle RoadlessCoronado National Forest22,365
PicachoTonto National Forest4,969
PinalenoCoronado National Forest130,920
Pine Mountain Wilderness ContiguousTonto National Forest6,518
Red PointKaibab National Forest7,139
Salt HouseApache-Sitgreaves National Forests21,848
Santa TeresaCoronado National Forest8,929
Sierra Ancha Wilderness ContiguousTonto National Forest7,787
TumacacoriCoronado National Forest44,594
Upper Dragoon RoadlessCoronado National Forest2,533
Upper Rincon RoadlessCoronado National Forest2,991
Upper Romero WsrCoronado National Forest150
WhetstoneCoronado National Forest20,728
Colorado (1)
AreaForestAcres
HermosaSan Juan NF148,103
Idaho (1)
AreaForestAcres
Bear CreekCaribou-Targhee National Forest118,582
Nevada (17)
AreaForestAcres
Angel Peak NorthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest12,577
Angel Peak SouthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest6,540
Bald Mtn.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest41,598
Black SpringHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest11,016
Charleston - CarpenterHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest17,828
Charleston - Macks CynHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest11,378
Grant - BrunoHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,828
Grant - WadsworthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest610
Lovell Summit SouthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest28,455
PotosiHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,145
QuinnHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest62,459
Snake - Big WashHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,146
Snake - ChokecherryHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest30,845
Snake - Peacock CynHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,069
South SchellHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest125,614
Tehama CreekHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest7,656
Ward MountainHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest15,927
New Mexico (36)
AreaForestAcres
Alamo CanyonSanta Fe National Forest8,639
Apache Kid ContiguousCibola National Forest67,542
Aspen MountainGila National Forest23,784
Black CanyonSanta Fe National Forest1,922
Candian RiverCibola National Forest7,149
Canones CreekSanta Fe National Forest3,938
Cerro AlesnaCibola National Forest6,184
Chama WS RiverSanta Fe National Forest4,168
Contiguous To Black & Aldo Leopold WildernessGila National Forest111,883
Contiguous To Gila Wilderness & Primitive AreaGila National Forest79,049
Devils CreekGila National Forest89,916
Dry CreekGila National Forest26,719
Eagle PeakGila National Forest34,016
El InviernoSanta Fe National Forest29,927
Frisco BoxGila National Forest38,979
Gila BoxGila National Forest23,759
Holy GhostSanta Fe National Forest2,352
Juan de Gabaldon GrantSanta Fe National Forest8,023
Last Chance CanyonLincoln National Forest8,934
LemitasSanta Fe National Forest8,129
Little TesuqueSanta Fe National Forest815
McClure ReservoirSanta Fe National Forest375
Meadow CreekGila National Forest34,167
Nichols ReservoirSanta Fe National Forest1,518
NolanGila National Forest13,051
Ortega PeakLincoln National Forest11,545
Peloncillo (NM)Coronado National Forest43,339
Ranger CabinCibola National Forest6,124
RendijaSanta Fe National Forest2,176
Ryan HillCibola National Forest34,201
San JoseCibola National Forest16,950
Sawyers PeakGila National Forest59,743
South Guadalupe MountainsLincoln National Forest20,930
Thompson PeakSanta Fe National Forest33,001
Virgin CanyonSanta Fe National Forest6,068
West Face Sacramento MountainsLincoln National Forest41,176
South Dakota (1)
AreaForestAcres
Indian CreekBuffalo Gap National Grassland24,666
Texas (1)
AreaForestAcres
Big CreekNational Forests in Texas1,447
Utah (69)
AreaForestAcres
0401002Ashley National Forest36,113
0401024Ashley National Forest12,882
0419020Ashley National Forest355,684
418008Uinta National Forest9,367
418012Uinta National Forest25,758
418015Uinta National Forest17,289
418016Uinta National Forest35,240
418017Uinta National Forest19,631
418022Uinta National Forest17,289
418024Uinta National Forest51,699
418025Uinta National Forest32,698
418028Uinta National Forest34,002
418029Uinta National Forest15,673
418040Uinta National Forest1,702
Big Bear CreekManti-Lasal National Forest28,440
Boulder MountainWasatch-Cache National Forest8,852
Boulder Mtn. / Boulder Top / Deer LakeDixie National Forest110,690
Bull ValleyDixie National Forest10,911
Bunker CreekDixie National Forest7,474
Burch CreekWasatch-Cache National Forest6,938
Capital ReefDixie National Forest763
Casto BluffDixie National Forest87,466
Cedar BenchDixie National Forest8,915
Circleville MountainFishlake National Forest24,142
Clarkston Mtn.Caribou National Forest7,099
CopleysFishlake National Forest11,683
CottonwoodDixie National Forest6,754
Cove CreekFishlake National Forest25,555
Cove MountainDixie National Forest16,632
FishhookDixie National Forest12,959
Fishlake MountainFishlake National Forest25,217
HogsbackWasatch-Cache National Forest7,936
Horse Mountain - Mans PeakManti-Lasal National Forest22,159
Joe LottFishlake National Forest19,826
LakesWasatch-Cache National Forest121,967
Lamb CanyonWasatch-Cache National Forest4,337
Lewis PeakWasatch-Cache National Forest11,616
Lone Peak ContiguousWasatch-Cache National Forest874
Long Neck Mesa / Steep Creek / Oak Creek - Steep Creek / OakDixie National Forest55,489
Mahogany RangeWasatch-Cache National Forest11,409
Marysvale PeakFishlake National Forest22,624
Middle FrancisWasatch-Cache National Forest3,296
Mollens HollowWasatch-Cache National Forest17,690
Moody WashDixie National Forest31,835
Mt. AireWasatch-Cache National Forest9,681
Mt. Logan NorthWasatch-Cache National Forest18,930
Mt. Logan SouthWasatch-Cache National Forest17,014
Mt. Logan WestWasatch-Cache National Forest5,285
Mt. NaomiWasatch-Cache National Forest41,922
Mt. OlympusWasatch-Cache National Forest9,982
Muddy Creek - Nelson Mt.Manti-Lasal National Forest59,034
New Home BenchDixie National Forest10,513
NoblettsWasatch-Cache National Forest3,116
North FrancisWasatch-Cache National Forest8,148
North PavantFishlake National Forest53,262
Oak CreekFishlake National Forest54,053
PavantFishlake National Forest42,560
Pine Valley MountainsDixie National Forest57,673
Right Hand Fork LoganWasatch-Cache National Forest15,023
Rock CanyonDixie National Forest16,457
SanpitchManti-Lasal National Forest29,129
Shakespeare PointDixie National Forest753
South FrancisWasatch-Cache National Forest3,374
Stansbury MountainsWasatch-Cache National Forest39,696
Stoddard MountainDixie National Forest13,165
Table Cliffs - Henderson CanyonDixie National Forest19,581
Twin PeaksWasatch-Cache National Forest6,157
Upper South ForkWasatch-Cache National Forest16,811
Wayne WonderlandFishlake National Forest12,395
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