Spermophilus
Encyclopedia
Spermophilus is a genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...

 of ground squirrel
Ground squirrel
The ground squirrels are members of the squirrel family of rodents which generally live on or in the ground, rather than trees. The term is most often used for the medium-sized ground squirrels, as the larger ones are more commonly known as marmots or prairie dogs, while the smaller and less...

s in the family Sciuridae. The majority of ground squirrel species, over 40 in total, are usually placed in this genus. However, Spermophilus in the broad sense has been found to be paraphyletic
Paraphyly
A group of taxa is said to be paraphyletic if the group consists of all the descendants of a hypothetical closest common ancestor minus one or more monophyletic groups of descendants...

 to the certainly distinct prairie dog
Prairie dog
Prairie dogs are burrowing rodents native to the grasslands of North America. There are five different species of prairie dogs: black-tailed, white-tailed, Gunnison's, Utah and Mexican prairie dogs. They are a type of ground squirrel, found in the United States, Canada and Mexico...

s, marmot
Marmot
The marmots are a genus, Marmota, of squirrels. There are 14 species in this genus.Marmots are generally large ground squirrels. Those most often referred to as marmots tend to live in mountainous areas such as the Alps, northern Apennines, Eurasian steppes, Carpathians, Tatras, and Pyrenees in...

s, and antelope squirrel
Antelope squirrel
The antelope squirrels or antelope ground squirrels are the genus Ammospermophilus of sciurids found in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico....

s, so it has been split into several genera by Kristofer Helgen and colleagues.

Some Eurasia
Eurasia
Eurasia is a continent or supercontinent comprising the traditional continents of Europe and Asia ; covering about 52,990,000 km2 or about 10.6% of the Earth's surface located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres...

n species are sometimes called susliks (or sousliks). This name comes from Russian суслик, suslik. The scientific name of this genus means "seed-lovers".

Ground squirrels may carry fleas that transmit diseases to humans (see Black Plague), and have been destructive in tunneling underneath human habitation. Though capable of climbing, most species of ground squirrel live in open, treeless habitats.

Species

A generic revision was undertaken in 2007 by means of phylogenetic
Phylogenetics
In biology, phylogenetics is the study of evolutionary relatedness among groups of organisms , which is discovered through molecular sequencing data and morphological data matrices...

 analyses using the mitochondrial
Mitochondrion
In cell biology, a mitochondrion is a membrane-enclosed organelle found in most eukaryotic cells. These organelles range from 0.5 to 1.0 micrometers in diameter...

 gene cytochrome b
Cytochrome b
Cytochrome b/b6 is the main subunit of transmembrane cytochrome bc1 and b6f complexes. In addition, it commonly refers to a region of mtDNA used for population genetics and phylogenetics.- Function :...

. This resulted in the splitting of Spermophilus into eight genera, which with the prairie dogs, marmots, and antelope squirrels are each given as numbered clade
Clade
A clade is a group consisting of a species and all its descendants. In the terms of biological systematics, a clade is a single "branch" on the "tree of life". The idea that such a "natural group" of organisms should be grouped together and given a taxonomic name is central to biological...

s. The exact relations between the clades are slightly unclear. Among these, eleven exclusively Palearctic
Palearctic
The Palearctic or Palaearctic is one of the eight ecozones dividing the Earth's surface.Physically, the Palearctic is the largest ecozone...

 species are retained as the genus Spermophilus sensu stricto (in the strictest sense).
  • Clade 1, Notocitellus
    Notocitellus
    Notocitellus is a genus of ground squirrels, containing two species. These species are the tropical ground squirrel , and the ring-tailed ground squirrel . Notocitellus was formerly placed in the large ground squirrel genus Spermophilus, as a subgenus or species group...

    , the tropical ground squirrels
  • Tropical ground squirrel
    Tropical Ground Squirrel
    The tropical ground squirrel is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family. It is endemic to upland shrub in northern Mexico....

    , Notocitellus adocetus
  • Ring-tailed ground squirrel
    Ring-tailed Ground Squirrel
    The ring-tailed ground squirrel is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family. It is endemic to the Pacific coast region of central Mexico....

    , Notocitellus annulatus

  • Clade 2, Ammospermophilus, the antelope squirrels
See antelope squirrel
Antelope squirrel
The antelope squirrels or antelope ground squirrels are the genus Ammospermophilus of sciurids found in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico....

.

  • Clade 3, Otospermophilus
    Otospermophilus
    Otospermophilus is a genus of ground squirrels in the family Sciuridae, containing three species. Otospermophilus was formerly placed in the large ground squirrel genus Spermophilus, as a subgenus or species group...

    , the rock squirrels
  • Rock squirrel
    Rock Squirrel
    The rock squirrel is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. It is found in Mexico and the United States. It is 43–53 cm long.-External links:**...

    , Otospermophilus variegatus
  • California ground squirrel
    California Ground Squirrel
    The California ground squirrel , is a common and easily observed ground squirrel of the western United States and the Baja California peninsula; it is common in Oregon and California and its range has relatively recently extended into Washington and northwestern Nevada...

    , Otospermophilus beecheyi
  • Baja California rock squirrel
    Baja California Rock Squirrel
    The Baja California rock squirrel is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family. It is endemic to Mexico....

    , Otospermophilus atricapillus

  • Clade 4, Callospermophilus
    Callospermophilus
    Callospermophilus is a genus of ground squirrel.-Species:The genus contains three species:* Golden-mantled ground squirrel * Sierra Madre ground squirrel * Cascade golden-mantled ground squirrel...

    , the golden-mantled ground squirrels
  • Golden-mantled ground squirrel
    Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
    The golden-mantled ground squirrel, Callospermophilus lateralis, is a type of ground squirrel found in mountainous areas of western North America. It eats seeds, nuts, berries, insects, and underground fungi. It is preyed upon by hawks, jays, weasels, foxes, bobcats, and coyotes. A typical adult...

    , Callospermophilus lateralis
  • Sierra Madre ground squirrel
    Sierra Madre Ground Squirrel
    The Sierra Madre ground squirrel is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family. It is endemic to Mexico. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland....

    , Callospermophilus madrensis
  • Cascade golden-mantled ground squirrel
    Cascade Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
    The Cascade golden-mantled ground squirrel is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family. It is found in the Cascade Mountains in the province of British Columbia, Canada and the state of Washington, United States....

    , Callospermophilus saturatus

  • Clade 5, Xerospermophilus
    Xerospermophilus
    Xerospermophilus is a genus of ground squirrels in the family Sciuridae, containing four species. The members of this genus were formerly placed in the large ground squirrel genus Spermophilus. Since DNA sequencing of the cytochrome b gene has shown Spermophilus to be paraphyletic to the prairie...

    , the pygmy ground squirrels
  • Mohave ground squirrel
    Mohave Ground Squirrel
    The Mohave ground squirrel is a species of ground squirrel found only in the Mojave Desert in California. The squirrel was discovered in 1886 by Frank Stephens of San Diego The Mohave ground squirrel (Xerospermophilus mohavensis) is a species of ground squirrel found only in the Mojave Desert in...

    , Xerospermophilus mohavensis
  • Round-tailed ground squirrel
    Round-tailed Ground Squirrel
    The round-tailed ground squirrel , 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...

    , Xerospermophilus tereticaudus
  • Spotted ground squirrel
    Spotted Ground Squirrel
    The spotted ground squirrel is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family. It is found in Mexico and the United States....

    , Xerospermophilus spilosoma
  • Perote ground squirrel
    Perote Ground Squirrel
    The Perote ground squirrel is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family. It is endemic to Mexico. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland....

    , Xerospermophilus perotensis

  • Clade 6, Cynomys, the prairie dogs
See prairie dog
Prairie dog
Prairie dogs are burrowing rodents native to the grasslands of North America. There are five different species of prairie dogs: black-tailed, white-tailed, Gunnison's, Utah and Mexican prairie dogs. They are a type of ground squirrel, found in the United States, Canada and Mexico...

.

  • Clade 7, Poliocitellus
  • Franklin's ground squirrel
    Franklin's ground squirrel
    Franklin's ground squirrel is a species native to tallgrass American prairie, from Canada to the northcentral United States.The species hibernates from early fall to spring, and bears a litter of 6–8 pups at a time...

    , Poliocitellus franklinii

  • Clade 8, Ictidomys, little ground squirrels
  • Thirteen-lined ground squirrel
    Thirteen-lined ground squirrel
    The thirteen-lined ground squirrel , also known as the striped gopher, leopard ground squirrel, squinney, and as the leopard-spermophile in Audubon’s day, is a ground squirrel....

    , Ictidomys tridecemlineatus
  • Mexican ground squirrel
    Mexican Ground Squirrel
    The Mexican ground squirrel is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. It is found in Mexico and the United States....

    , Ictidomys mexicanus
  • Ictidomys parvidens

  • Clade 9, Marmota, the marmots
See marmot
Marmot
The marmots are a genus, Marmota, of squirrels. There are 14 species in this genus.Marmots are generally large ground squirrels. Those most often referred to as marmots tend to live in mountainous areas such as the Alps, northern Apennines, Eurasian steppes, Carpathians, Tatras, and Pyrenees in...

.

  • Clade 10, Urocitellus
    Urocitellus
    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...

    , Holarctic
    Holarctic
    The Holarctic ecozone refers to the habitats found throughout the northern continents of the world as a whole. This region is divided into the Palearctic, consisting of Northern Africa and all of Eurasia, with the exception of Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent, and the Nearctic,...

     ground squirrels
  • Long-tailed ground squirrel
    Long-tailed Ground Squirrel
    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.-Description:...

    , Urocitellus undulatus
  • Uinta ground squirrel
    Uinta ground squirrel
    The Uinta ground squirrel , commonly called a Potgut in northern Utah, is a native of the northern Rocky Mountains and surrounding foothills of the United States including Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming...

    , Urocitellus armatus
  • Belding's ground squirrel
    Belding's Ground Squirrel
    Belding's ground squirrel , also called pot gut, sage rat or picket-pin, is a squirrel that lives on mountains in the western United States. In California, it often is found at 6,500–11,800 feet in meadows between Lake Tahoe and Kings Canyon...

    , Urocitellus beldingi
  • Idaho ground squirrel
    Idaho Ground Squirrel
    The Idaho ground squirrel is a species of the largest genus of ground squirrels. There are two subspecies, both in Idaho. They are also known as Idaho Spotted Ground Squirrel.-Description:...

    , Urocitellus brunneus
  • Merriam's ground squirrel
    Merriam's Ground Squirrel
    Merriam's ground squirrel is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. It occurs in the states of Idaho, Nevada, and Oregon in the United States.-Description:...

    , Urocitellus canus
  • Columbian ground squirrel
    Columbian Ground Squirrel
    The Columbian ground squirrel is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family. It is found in Canada and the United States....

    , Urocitellus columbianus
  • Wyoming ground squirrel
    Wyoming Ground Squirrel
    The Wyoming ground squirrel is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family. It is endemic to the United States....

    , Urocitellus elegans
  • Piute ground squirrel
    Piute Ground Squirrel
    The Piute ground squirrel is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. It is endemic to the United States....

    , Urocitellus mollis
  • Arctic ground squirrel
    Arctic Ground Squirrel
    The Arctic ground squirrel is a species of ground squirrel native to the Arctic.-Subspecies:Listed alphabetically.*S. p. ablusus Osgood, 1903...

    , Urocitellus parryii
  • Townsend's ground squirrel
    Townsend's Ground Squirrel
    The Townsend's ground squirrel is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family. It is found in high desert shrublands in several areas of the United States.-Distribution:...

    , Urocitellus townsendii
  • Washington ground squirrel
    Washington Ground Squirrel
    The Washington ground squirrel is a squirrel found in the Pacific Northwest United States, in the states of Washington and Oregon. The species is listed as endangered in Oregon and is a candidate for endangered species listing in the United States, but is not currently listed...

    , Urocitellus washingtoni
  • Richardson's ground squirrel
    Richardson's Ground Squirrel
    Richardson's ground squirrel , or the flickertail, is a North American ground squirrel in the genus Urocitellus...

    , Urocitellus richardsonii

  • Clade 11, Spermophilus sensu stricto, Old World
    Old World
    The Old World consists of those parts of the world known to classical antiquity and the European Middle Ages. It is used in the context of, and contrast with, the "New World" ....

     ground squirrels
  • European ground squirrel
    European ground squirrel
    The European ground squirrel , also known as the European souslik, is a species from the squirrel family Sciuridae and is besides the speckled ground squirrel the only European representative of the genus Spermophilus...

    , Spermophilus citellus
  • Alashan ground squirrel
    Alashan Ground Squirrel
    The Alashan ground squirrel is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family. It is found in China and Mongolia....

    , Spermophilus alashanicus
  • Daurian ground squirrel
    Daurian Ground Squirrel
    The Daurian ground squirrel is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family. It is found in China, Mongolia, and Russia.-Distribution:...

    , Spermophilus dauricus
  • Red-cheeked ground squirrel
    Red-cheeked Ground Squirrel
    The red-cheeked ground squirrel is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family. It is commonly referred to as the red-cheeked ground souslik and there are several recognized subspecies. It is found in central Asia...

    , Spermophilus erythrogenys
  • Yellow ground squirrel
    Yellow Ground Squirrel
    The yellow ground squirrel is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family. It is found in Afghanistan, China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan....

    , Spermophilus fulvus
  • Russet ground squirrel
    Russet Ground Squirrel
    The russet ground squirrel is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family. It is also known as the Hibernating Large Ground Squirrel and the Large-Toothed Souslik...

    , Spermophilus major
  • Little ground squirrel
    Little ground squirrel
    The little ground squirrel or litle souslik, is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family. It is found in Central Asia east to the Aral Sea....

    , Spermophilus pygmaeus
  • Spermophilus relictus
  • Speckled ground squirrel
    Speckled Ground Squirrel
    The speckled ground squirrel or spotted souslik is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family. Spermophilus suslicus consists of three subspecies: S. s. boristhenicus, S. s. guttatus, and S. s...

    , Spermophilus suslicus
  • Taurus ground squirrel
    Taurus ground squirrel
    The Taurus ground squirrel is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family. It is endemic to the Taurus Mountains of Turkey. It was first identified as a distinct species to the Asia Minor ground squirrel in 2007....

    , Spermophilus taurensis
  • Asia Minor ground squirrel
    Asia Minor Ground Squirrel
    The Asia Minor ground squirrel , or Anatolian souslik, is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family. It is found in Armenia, Iran, and Turkey...

    , Spermophilus xanthoprymnus
  • Spermophilus pallidicauda
    Spermophilus pallidicauda
    The pallid ground squirrel, , is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family. It is found in Mongolia and the adjacent Nei Mongol autonomous region....

  • Spermophilus ralli
    Spermophilus ralli
    Spermophilus ralli is a species of squirrel found in the grasslands of western China, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. A close relative of Spermophilus relictus, it is sometimes considered the same species, and shares the common name Tien Shan ground squirrel.-Description:This ground squirrel is about...

  • Spermophilus brevicauda
    Spermophilus brevicauda
    Brandt’s Ground Squirrel, , is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family. It is found in eastern Kazakhstan and the northern half of the Xinjiang region of China....


External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK