Round-tailed Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus tereticaudus)

Round-tailed Ground Squirrel. Photo taken in Tucson, Arizona
Photograph by Sue in Az. Some rights reserved. (view image details)

Round-tailed Ground Squirrel | Spermophilus tereticaudus photo

Round-tailed Ground Squirrel feeding on the seed pods of a Velvet Mesquite. Photo taken in Tucson, Arizona
Photograph by Sue in Az. Some rights reserved. (view image details)

Round-tailed Ground Squirrel | Spermophilus tereticaudus photo

Round-tailed Ground Squirrel at the zoo.
Photograph by Ashley. Some rights reserved. (view image details)

ROUND-TAILED GROUND SQUIRREL FACTS

Description
The Round-tailed Ground Squirrel is a small ground squirrel with a long round tail. The fur is brownish gray without markings above and paler underneath. The summer coat is lighter in color than the winter coat. It molts twice a year in spring and in fall. They are active all year round in some areas, and in other areas they spend most of their time underground from September to January but do not hibernate.

Size
Length: 20cm - 28cm. Weight: 110g - 170g

Environment
sandy arid regions, sand dunes. They dig burrows in loose soil, usually under a shrub.

Food
leaves, flowers, seeds. Also some insects such as ants, termites and grasshoppers

Breeding
Up to twelve young (average 6) are born after a gestation period of 25 - 35 days. Young are weaned after about 5 weeks.

Range
Arizona, California and northern Mexico

Classification

Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Sciuridae
Genus:	Spermophilus
Species:	tereticaudus
Common Name:	Round-tailed Ground Squirrel

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