Southern Idaho ground squirrel

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Southern Idaho ground squirrel
Southern Idaho ground squirrel (Spermophilus brunneus endemicus), candidate.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Genus: Urocitellus
Species:
U. endemicus
Binomial name
Urocitellus endemicus
(Yensen, 1991)

The southern Idaho ground squirrel (Urocitellus endemicus) is a species of the largest genus of ground squirrels. This species and the Northern Idaho ground squirrel were previously considered conspecific, together called the Idaho ground squirrel.

Description

The species has sexual dimorphism, with males being normally larger than females. Their weight ranges from 120 to 290 grams (0.26 to 0.64 lb) and are on average 233 millimetres (9.2 in) in length, though their range is 209 to 258 millimetres (8.2 to 10.2 in).

"Don't shoot" squirrels sign in Southwestern Idaho Don't shoot the squirrels sign, BLM Southwest Idaho.jpg
"Don't shoot" squirrels sign in Southwestern Idaho

Behavior

The southern Idaho ground squirrel can be found in an area about 30 by 70 kilometers (19 by 43 miles) extending from Emmett, Idaho, northwest to Weiser, Idaho, and the surrounding area of Squaw Butte, Midvale Hill, and Henley Basin in Gem, Payette, and Washington counties.

Its range is bounded on the south by the Payette River, on the west by the Snake River and on the northeast by lava flows. Their habitat is typified by rolling hills, basins, and flats at an altitude of between 670 and 975 meters (2,198 and 3,199 ft).

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belding's ground squirrel</span> Species of rodent

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merriam's ground squirrel</span> Species of rodent

Merriam's ground squirrel is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. It occurs in the western United States in Idaho, Nevada, and Oregon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Columbian ground squirrel</span> Species of rodent

The Columbian ground squirrel is a species of rodent common in certain regions of Canada and the northwestern United States. It is the second largest member of the genus Urocitellus, which is part of the tribe Marmotini, along with marmots, chipmunks, prairie dogs, and other holarctic ground squirrels. They are stout, with short dense fur, which is characteristically tawny across the bridge of the nose. Social encounters sometimes are initiated with kissing behavior and the most common activity above ground is standing at attention. Residing in mountainous terrain and high plains in northern latitudes, they hibernate for 8 to 9 months of the year in burrows, which may be used for many years. They are emaciated when emerging in the spring. The Columbian ground squirrel came to the attention of the scientific community through writings produced by Lewis and Clark, while 21st century molecular genetics has more finely illuminated its ties with other close relatives.

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The Piute ground squirrel is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. It is endemic to the Great Basin region of the western United States, where it is found in parts of California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long-tailed ground squirrel</span> Species of rodent

The long-tailed ground squirrel or Eversmann's souslik is a species of rodent in the squirrel family Sciuridae. It is found in China, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and Russia.

<i>Urocitellus</i> Genus of rodents

Urocitellus is a genus of ground squirrels. They were previously believed to belong to the much larger genus Spermophilus, but DNA sequencing of the cytochrome b gene showed that this group was paraphyletic to the prairie dogs and marmots, and could therefore no longer be retained as a single genus. As a result, Urocitellus is now considered as a genus in its own right.

The Idaho ground squirrel has been split into the following species:

References

  1. Yensen, E. (2018). "Urocitellus endemicus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T20498A117636227. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T20498A117636227.en . Retrieved 13 November 2021.