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 tridecemlineatus, S. spilosoma.
Members of the subgenus Ictidomys include I. tridecemlineatus and I. mexicanus from our region. Until recently, X. spilosoma was included in Ictidomys. Most or all fossils originally identified to Ictidomys were done so on the basis of dental characteristics shared with Xerospermophilus or on size, which varies geographically. Ictidomys mexicanus (Mexican Ground Squirrel) is enough larger than the other two species that it should not be confused with them.
Sites.
Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Cadiz (Jefferson 2014).
Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Lost Valley (Harris 1993c); Rm Vanishing Floor (Harris 1993c).
Mid Wisconsin: Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); U-Bar Cave (Harris 1987).
Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Sierra Diablo Cave (UTEP).
Late Wisconsin: Algerita Blossom Cave (Harris 1993c); Charlies Parlor (Harris 1993c); Mystery Light Cave (this volume: cf. gen. et sp.); TT II (Harris 1993c).
Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Howell's Ridge Cave (Harris 1993c).
Literature. Harris 1987, 1993c, 2003; Jefferson 2014.
Last Update: 14 May 2015