Xerospermophilus
Encyclopedia
Xerospermophilus is a genus
of ground squirrel
s 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 dog
s and marmot
s, this group is now separated, along with six other genera. Within the genus, the Mohave ground squirrel
and the round-tailed ground squirrel
were thought to be close relatives, sometimes a subgenus
Xerospermophilus, while the spotted ground squirrel
and the Perote ground squirrel
were placed in the subgenus (now a genus) Ictidomys.
The name of the genus is a combination of the Greek word xeros, "dry", and Spermophilus
, which also comes from Greek, meaning "seed lovers".
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, containing four species. The members of this genus were formerly placed in the large ground squirrel genus Spermophilus
Spermophilus
Spermophilus is a genus of ground squirrels in the family Sciuridae. The majority of ground squirrel species, over 40 in total, are usually placed in this genus...
. Since DNA sequencing
DNA sequencing
DNA sequencing includes several methods and technologies that are used for determining the order of the nucleotide bases—adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine—in a molecule of DNA....
of the 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 :...
gene has shown Spermophilus to be paraphyletic to the 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 and 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, this group is now separated, along with six other genera. Within the genus, the 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...
and the 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...
were thought to be close relatives, sometimes a subgenus
Subgenus
In biology, a subgenus is a taxonomic rank directly below genus.In zoology, a subgeneric name can be used independently or included in a species name, in parentheses, placed between the generic name and the specific epithet: e.g. the Tiger Cowry of the Indo-Pacific, Cypraea tigris Linnaeus, which...
Xerospermophilus, while the 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....
and the 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....
were placed in the subgenus (now a genus) Ictidomys.
The name of the genus is a combination of the Greek word xeros, "dry", and Spermophilus
Spermophilus
Spermophilus is a genus of ground squirrels in the family Sciuridae. The majority of ground squirrel species, over 40 in total, are usually placed in this genus...
, which also comes from Greek, meaning "seed lovers".
Species
The four species in Xerospermophilus are listed below. These are the same species that were previously grouped in the subgenus Otospermophilus.- Mohave ground squirrelMohave Ground SquirrelThe 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 squirrelRound-tailed Ground SquirrelThe 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 squirrelSpotted Ground SquirrelThe 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 squirrelPerote Ground SquirrelThe 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