Ammospermophilus
| Antelope squirrels |
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Harris's Antelope Squirrel,
Ammospermophilus harrisii |
| Scientific classification |
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| Species |
Ammospermophilus harrisii
A. nelsoni
A. leucurus
A. interpres
A. insularis |
The Antelope squirrels or Antelope ground squirrels are the genus Ammospermophilus of sciurids found in the south-western United States and northern Mexico.
The Antelope squirrels are ground squirrels. They live in desert or dry scrub areas.
Five species are currently recognised, with ranges that overlap little. They are:
- Harris's Antelope Squirrel, Ammospermophilus harrisii (southern Arizona, Sonora)
- San Joaquin Antelope Squirrel or Nelson's Antelope Squirrel, A. nelsoni (San Joaquin Valley of California); endangered
- White-tailed Antelope Squirrel, A. leucurus (New Mexico, southern Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Nevada and north to Oregon). The most widely distributed species in the genus.
- Texas Antelope Squirrel, A. interpres (Texas, New Mexico)
- Insular Antelope Squirrel, A. insularis Espiritu Santo Island Baja California Sur (some authorities treat this as a subspecies of A. leucurus).
All are somewhat similar in appearance and behavior. They are around 14-17cm long with a 6-10cm tail, and weigh 110-150 grams. The tail is somewhat flattened. They have a single white stripe on the body and none on the face. They live in burrows, which they dig for themselves. They are diurnal, and do not hibernate (though they become less active during the winter), so they are fairly easily seen.
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