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Home/Species/ Cascade Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel

Callospermophilus saturatus

(Rhoads, 1895)

Cascade Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel

G5Secure Found in 38 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.102354
Element CodeAMAFB05180
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassMammalia
OrderRodentia
FamilySciuridae
GenusCallospermophilus
Synonyms
Spermophilus saturatus(Rhoads, 1895)
Other Common Names
Cascade golden-mantled ground squirrel (EN) Cascade Ground Squirrel (EN) Spermophile à mante dorée des Cascades (FR) Spermophile des Cascades (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.

Formerly considered a subspecies of C. lateralis.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-04-04
Change Date1998-11-06
Range Extent Comments
Cascade Mountains from southern British Columbia (west to the Fraser River, north to the Nicola River, east to the Okkanagan River) south to Columbia River in Washington (Trombulak 1988; Leung and Cheng, 1992 COSEWIC report).
Threat Impact Comments
No significant threats; see 1992 COSEWIC report by Leung and Cheng.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Talus slides and clearings; krummholz; closed coniferous forest, pine woodland, and adjacent open meadows and sagebrush steppe Trombulak, in Wilson and Ruff 1999). In underground burrow when inactive (Trombulak 1988). Young are born in underground burrows.

Ecology

May live in colonies, but population densities typically are low (3/ha in forest, 5-12/ha in adjacent meadow in Washington). Populations may be highest in parks where human refuse is available as food. Relatively mobile; large % of residents may be immigrants (Trombulak 1987). Sedentary in British Columbia. EUTAMIAS AMOENUS occurs sympatrically.

Reproduction

Copulation occurs in late April-early May. Gestation lasts 28 days. Litter size is 1-5 (average 4); one litter/year (Trombulak 1988). Females may breed as yearlings, males usually not until second year. Juveniles emerge from natal burrows in July-early August (Trombulak 1987).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - ConiferWoodland - ConiferShrubland/chaparralGrassland/herbaceousAlpineBare rock/talus/scree
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN4
ProvinceRankNative
British ColumbiaS3Yes
United StatesN4
ProvinceRankNative
WashingtonS5Yes
Roadless Areas (38)
Washington (38)
AreaForestAcres
Alpine Lakes Adj.Wenatchee National Forest57,104
Black CanyonOkanogan National Forest9,681
Blue SlideWenatchee National Forest17,505
Canyon CreekWenatchee National Forest7,983
ChambersGifford Pinchot National Forest2,006
ChelanWenatchee National Forest74,650
Dark DivideGifford Pinchot National Forest52,483
Devils GulchWenatchee National Forest24,419
Dixon MountainGifford Pinchot National Forest6,339
Eagle RockMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest34,064
EntiatWenatchee National Forest72,617
Glacier Peak BMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest19,328
Glacier Peak JMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest26,482
Goat Rocks AdjWenatchee National Forest6,108
Gotchen CreekGifford Pinchot National Forest7,518
Granite MountainOkanogan National Forest27,428
Heather LakeWenatchee National Forest10,628
HorseshoeGifford Pinchot National Forest7,579
Liberty BellOkanogan National Forest108,495
Lion RockWenatchee National Forest4,692
ManastashWenatchee National Forest11,155
Mt. Baker NorthMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest16,873
Myrtle LakeWenatchee National Forest11,133
NaneumWenatchee National Forest4,508
Nason RidgeWenatchee National Forest19,329
Norse PeakWenatchee National Forest10,169
Pasayten RimOkanogan National Forest17,074
QuartzWenatchee National Forest8,550
Red MountainGifford Pinchot National Forest2,992
Rock CreekWenatchee National Forest32,239
SawtoothOkanogan National Forest122,194
Slide RidgeWenatchee National Forest11,430
South MidwayGifford Pinchot National Forest2,384
Stormy Mtn.Wenatchee National Forest32,612
TaneumWenatchee National Forest26,140
TeanawayWenatchee National Forest72,849
Thorp Mtn.Wenatchee National Forest22,717
Twin LakesWenatchee National Forest22,496
References (23)
  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. Dalquest. W. W. 1948. Mammals of Washington. University of Kansas Museum Natural History Publ. 2:1-444.
  4. 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.
  5. Evans, F. C., and R. Holdenried. 1943. A population study of the Beechey ground squirrel in central California. Journal of Mammalogy 24:231-260.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. Ingles, L. G. 1965. Mammals of the Pacific States. Stanford University Press, Stanford, California.
  10. Johnson, K. 1981. Social organization in a colony of rock squirrels (<i>Spermophilus variegatus</i>). Southwestern Naturalist 26:237-242.
  11. Leung, M. C.-Y., and K. M. Cheng. 1994. Genetic variability of the Cascade mantled ground squirrel (SPERMOPHILUS SATURATUS) in British Columbia. Can. J. Zool. 72:371-374.
  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. Trombulak, S.C. 1987. Life history of the Cascade golden- mantled ground squirrel (SPERMOPHILUS SATURATUS). J. Mamm. 68:544-554.
  21. Trombulak, S. C. 1988. SPERMOPHILUS SATURATUS. Am. Soc. Mamm., Mammalian Species 322:1-4.
  22. 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/.
  23. Wilson, D. E., and S. Ruff. 1999. The Smithsonian book of North American mammals. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. 750 pp.