Everything about Round-tailed Ground Squirrel totally explained
Round-tailed Ground Squirrels (
Spermophilus tereticaudus), known as "Ardillón cola redonda" in Spanish, live in the desert of the
Southwestern United States and adjacent
Mexico. They are called "
ground squirrels" because they burrow in loose soil, often under
mesquite trees and
creosote bushes.
Characteristics
Most round-tailed ground squirrels are very small. Weight at birth is approximately 3.9 grams. Adults weigh around 125 grams (roughly four ounces). All have a long round tail and long, hairy hind feet. They have no fur markings, instead having a uniform sandy color, which matches the soil they burrow in. The underside of their body is usually a lighter shade.
Lifecycle
The
gestation period is 28 days. An average of 5.4 pups are born in each litter. They reach sexual maturity at 325 days. The maximum
longevity is less than nine years. They are prey animals for coyotes, badgers, and snakes.
Behavior
Ground squirrels are well-adapted to
desert life. They can stay active even on the hottest of days though they do tend to limit their activity during the heat of the afternoon sun. They live underground in the winter, typically from late August or September until January or February. They go into
torpor but they don't
hibernate.
Social Structure
They have a semicolonial social structure, and will alert others of impending danger with a high-pitched alarm call. But that'll chase away other ground squirrels who get too close to their own burrow. The males are dominant during breeding season (January through March). The females dominate during raising of the young (March and April).
Diet
They are
omnivores. The bulk of their diet is green vegetation, especially in the summer. They also eat seeds and insects (ants, termites, and grasshoppers). Most of their foods are chosen for high water content because of the shortage of available water in their environment. The average water content of the food they eat is 80%.
Further Information
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