Round-tailed ground squirrel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Round-tailed ground squirrel |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Xerospermophilus
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| Species: |
tereticaudus
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| Subspecies | |
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X. t. chlorus |
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| Synonyms | |
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Spermophilus tereticaudus Baird, 1858 |
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The round-tailed ground squirrel (Xerospermophilus tereticaudus) is a small animal. It lives in the deserts of the Southwestern United States and Northwestern Mexico. People in Spanish-speaking areas call it "Ardillón cola redonda." These squirrels are called "ground squirrels" because they dig burrows. They often make their homes in loose soil, usually under mesquite trees and creosote bushes.
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What Makes Them Special?
Most round-tailed ground squirrels are quite small. When they are born, they weigh about 3.9 grams (0.14 oz). Adult squirrels usually weigh around 125 grams (4.4 oz). They all have a long, round tail. Their back feet are long and covered with hair. These squirrels do not have any special fur patterns. Instead, they are a plain sandy color. This helps them blend in with the soil where they dig their burrows. The fur on their belly is often a bit lighter. Round-tailed squirrels are usually 204 to 278 millimetres (8.0 to 10.9 in) long. This measurement includes their tail, which is about 60 to 112 millimetres (2.4 to 4.4 in) long.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
A female squirrel carries her babies for 28 days. This is called the gestation period. On average, about 5 or 6 babies are born in each litter. Young squirrels can have their own babies when they are about 325 days old. We do not know much about how long these animals live in the wild. However, one squirrel born in the wild lived for almost 9 years while it was cared for by humans. Many animals hunt these squirrels. Some of their predators include coyotes, badgers, hawks, and snakes.
How They Behave
Ground squirrels are very good at living in the desert. They can stay active even when it is very hot outside. However, they often slow down during the hottest part of the afternoon. In the winter, they live underground. This usually happens from late August or September until January or February. During this time, they enter a state called torpor. This is like a deep sleep where their body slows down. It helps them save energy. They do not truly hibernate, which is a longer and deeper sleep.
How They Live Together
These squirrels live in groups that are somewhat like a colony. If they sense danger, they will make a loud, high-pitched alarm call. This warns other squirrels nearby. But they will also chase away other ground squirrels that get too close to their own burrow. During the breeding season, from January to March, the male squirrels are in charge. When the young squirrels are being raised, from March to April, the female squirrels become the leaders.
What They Eat
Round-tailed ground squirrels are omnivores. This means they eat both plants and animals. Most of what they eat is green plants, especially in the summer. They also enjoy eating seeds and insects. Some of the insects they eat are ants, termites, and grasshoppers. They often choose foods that have a lot of water in them. This is because water is hard to find in their desert home. On average, the food they eat is about 80% water.
- Spermophilus tereticaudus in the CalPhotos Photo Database, University of California, Berkeley
