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Urocitellus parryii

(Richardson, 1825)

Arctic Ground Squirrel

G5Secure Found in 5 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.102783
Element CodeAMAFB05080
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 parryii(Richardson, 1825)
Other Common Names
Spermophile arctique (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 parryii formerly was included in Asian U. undulatus.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-04-05
Change Date1996-11-06
Range Extent Comments
Alaska, Yukon, mainland Northwest Territories, and northern British Columbia.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Tundra, subalpine brushy meadows, roadsides, riverbanks, lakeshores, sandbanks; not in permafrost areas. Well-drained habitats often associated with sand dunes or eskers. Digs extensive buroow system that may be used for many years; most tunnels are not more than 3 feet deep, with several entrances.

Ecology

In Yukon Territory, dispersal distances of juveniles were as follows: females, mean 120 m, median 61 m, n = 101; males, mean 515 m, median 241 m, n = 49 (Byrom and Krebs 1999).

Activity reduces lichen cover, whereas monocots and dicots increase (Mallory and Heffernan 1987). Predators include ermine, wolves, arctic fox, grizzly bear, and humans.

Reproduction

Mates in May soon after emerging from hibernation. Litter of 5-10 young is born in late June, weaned at 20 days (Whitaker 1980).
Terrestrial Habitats
Grassland/herbaceousAlpineTundra
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN5
ProvinceRankNative
ManitobaS3Yes
Northwest TerritoriesS5Yes
Yukon TerritoryS4Yes
SaskatchewanSUYes
NunavutS5Yes
British ColumbiaS4Yes
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
AlaskaS5Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
5 - Biological resource use——High (continuing)
5.1 - Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals——High (continuing)
7 - Natural system modifications——High (continuing)
7.3 - Other ecosystem modifications——High (continuing)

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Roadless Areas (5)
Alaska (5)
AreaForestAcres
Fidalgo-GravinaChugach National Forest257,968
MontagueChugach National Forest204,875
Nellie JuanChugach National Forest713,697
Prince William Sound Is.Chugach National Forest118,698
Twenty MileChugach National Forest198,775
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. Byrom, A. E., and C. J. Krebs. 1999. Natal dispersal of juvenile arctic ground squirrels in the boreal forest. Canadian Journal of Zoology 77:1048-1059.
  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. Eddingsaas, A. A., B. K. Jacobsen, E. P. Lessa, and J. A. Cook. 2004. Evolutionary history of the arctic ground squirrel (<i>Spermophilus parryii</i>) in Nearctic Beringea. Journal of Mammalogy 85:601-610.
  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. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. Johnson, K. 1981. Social organization in a colony of rock squirrels (<i>Spermophilus variegatus</i>). Southwestern Naturalist 26:237-242.
  11. 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.
  12. Mallory, F. F., and T. D. Heffernan. 1987. Floristic modification of low arctic tundra by the Arctic ground squirrel. Canadian Field-Nat. 101:388-391.
  13. 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.
  14. 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.
  15. 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.
  16. 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
  17. O'Donoghue, M., and S. Stuart. 1993. Hare-raising encounters. Natural History 2/93, pp. 26-33.
  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. Slade, N. A., and D. F. Balph. 1974. Population ecology of Uinta ground squirrels. Ecology 55:989-1003.
  22. Whitaker, J. O., Jr. 1980. The Audubon Society field guide to North American mammals. Alfred A. Knopf, New York. 745 pp.
  23. 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/.