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Xerospermophilus spilosoma

(Bennet, 1833)

Spotted Ground Squirrel

G5Secure Found in 2 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.100684
Element CodeAMAFB05110
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassMammalia
OrderRodentia
FamilySciuridae
GenusXerospermophilus
Synonyms
Spermophilus spilosomaBennett, 1833
Other Common Names
spotted ground 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.
Conservation Status
Review Date1996-11-06
Change Date1996-11-06
Range Extent Comments
South-central South Dakota, southeastern Wyoming, southern Utah, and southwestern Colorado south through Arizona, New Mexico, western Kansas, western Oklahoma, and Texas to central Mexico; see map in Streubel and Fitzgerald (1978).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Often where soil dry and sandy. Typically in grasslands and desert scrub. Often associated with overgrazed grassland. Burrows usually are under vegetation or rocks and may be about 18 inches below surface of ground (Jones et al. 1983).

Ecology

In Colorado, average home range size was estimated at about 1.5 ha (up to about 5 ha). Usually stays close to burrow. Population density was estimated at 2-7/ha in Oklahoma.

Reproduction

Gestation lasts about 4 weeks. Litter size usually averages about 7. Females possibly produce 2 litters annually in south (but not in Colorado) (Streubel and Fitzgerald 1978).
Terrestrial Habitats
Woodland - ConiferShrubland/chaparralSavannaGrassland/herbaceousDesert
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
South DakotaSHYes
WyomingS3Yes
UtahSHYes
ColoradoS4Yes
KansasS3Yes
OklahomaS3Yes
ArizonaS4Yes
New MexicoS5Yes
TexasS5Yes
NebraskaSUYes
Navajo NationS4Yes
Roadless Areas (2)
Arizona (1)
AreaForestAcres
ChiricahuaCoronado National Forest76,876
New Mexico (1)
AreaForestAcres
Capitan MountainsLincoln National Forest14,069
References (24)
  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. Bee, J.W., R.S. Hoffmann, G. Blass, R.R. Paterson. 1981. Mammals in Kansas. Universtiy of Kansas Publications, Mus. Nat.Hist., Public Ed. Series No. 7., Lawrence.
  4. Caire, W., J. D. Tyler, B. P. Glass, and M. A. Mares. 1989. Mammals of Oklahoma. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman. Oklahoma. 567 pp.
  5. 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.
  6. Evans, F. C., and R. Holdenried. 1943. A population study of the Beechey ground squirrel in central California. Journal of Mammalogy 24:231-260.
  7. 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.
  8. Hall, E. R. 1981a. The Mammals of North America, second edition. Vols. I &amp; II. John Wiley &amp; Sons, New York, New York. 1181 pp.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. Johnson, K. 1981. Social organization in a colony of rock squirrels (<i>Spermophilus variegatus</i>). Southwestern Naturalist 26:237-242.
  12. 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.
  13. Mammalian Species, nos. 1-604. Published by the American Society of Mammalogists.
  14. 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.
  15. 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.
  16. 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.
  17. 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
  18. 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.
  19. Owings, D. H., M. Borchert, and R. A. Virginia. 1977. The behaviour of California ground squirrels. Animal Behaviour 25:221-30.
  20. 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.
  21. Schmidly, D. J. 1977. The mammals of Trans-Pecos Texas including Big Bend National Park and Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Texas A & M University Press, College Station.
  22. Slade, N. A., and D. F. Balph. 1974. Population ecology of Uinta ground squirrels. Ecology 55:989-1003.
  23. Streubel, D. P., and J. P. Fitzgerald. 1978. <i>Spermophilus spilosoma</i>. Am. Soc. Mamm., Mammalian Species No. 101:1-4.
  24. 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/.