Uinta ground squirrel
| Uinta ground squirrel Urocitellus armatus | |
|---|---|
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Sciuridae |
| Genus: | Urocitellus |
| Species: | U. armatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Urocitellus armatus (Kennicott, 1863) | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Spermophilus armatus Kennicott, 1863 | |
The Uinta ground squirrel (Urocitellus armatus), commonly called a Potgut in northern Utah, is a native of the northern Rocky Mountains and surrounding foothills of the Western United States. It is found in Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming.
Their habitat includes dry meadows, grasslands, and cultivated fields close to water.
Description
The squirrels eat foods including seeds, green vegetation, insects, and meat. They are fully active for roughly 3½ months in the spring and summer before beginning estivation and hibernation in burrows underground. During their active periods the squirrels are diurnal and often live in colonies.
The squirrels mate in the early spring and females give birth after about a month of gestation. Young leave the burrow at twenty-four days. Litters usually include four to six young with older females generally producing larger litters. Adults weigh between 285g–425g.
References
- ↑ Linzey, A.V. & Hammerson, G. (2008). "Spermophilus armatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
External links
- Uinta Ground Squirrel page at the Utah Conservation Data Center of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
- eNature Flash Card
- LaValle, A. 2000. "Spermophilus armatus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed December 25, 2007 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Spermophilus_armatus.html.
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