Class Mammalia
Order Rodentia
Family Sciuridae
Spermophile Ground Squirrels—Spermophile Ground Squirrels // Callospermophilus lateralis—Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel // Ictidomys/Xerospermophilus)—Ictidomys or Xerospermophilus Ground Squirrel // Ictidomys tridecemlineatus—Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel // Otospermophilus bensoni—Benson Rock Squirrel // Otospermophilus variegatus—Rock Squirrel // "Spermophilus" cochisei—Cochise Ground Squirrel // Urocitellus elegans—Wyoming Ground Squirrel // Xerospermophilus spilosoma—Spotted Ground Squirrel
Synonyms. Spermophilus spilosoma.
Spotted Ground Squirrels are common in the basins of New
Mexico and Trans-Pecos Texas. They almost never are found in rocky habitats, apparently
preferring the more mellow soils away from the mountains and foothills. In Arizona, a large portion of the southeastern sector and much of the northern portion supports the species.
The record from Isleta Cave No. 1 (Harris 1993c) is withdrawn, no voucher having been found.
Fig. 1. Spotted Ground Squirrel. After Bailey (1931).
Sites.
Mid Wisconsin: Papago Springs Cave (Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999: cf.); Tank Trap Wash (Van Devender et al. 1987: cf.); Tunnel View #1 (Van Devender and Bradley 1990: cf.).
Mid/Late Wisconsin: Animal Fair (Harris 1993c); Dark Canyon Cave (UTEP); Pit N&W Animal Fair (Harris 1993c: cf.).
Late Wisconsin: Balcony Room (UTEP cf.); Dust Cave (Harris and Hearst 2012); Lower Sloth Cave (Logan 1983); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); Steeruwitz Hills #1(4) (Van Devender and Bradley 1990: cf.); U-Bar Cave 14-15 ka (Harris 1989: cf.); U-Bar Cave 15-18 ka (Harris 1989); U-Bar Cave 18-20 ka (Harris 1989).
Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Fowlkes Cave (Dalquest and Stangl 1984b); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003).
Literature. Bailey 1931; Czaplewski and Mead et al. 1999; Dalquest and Stangl 1984b; Harris 1989, 1993c, 2003; Harris and Hearst 2012; Logan 1983; Van Devender and Bradley 1990; Van Devender et al. 1987.
Last Update: 6 Mar 2013