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Harris's Antelope Squirrel
Ammospermophilus harrisii (Audubon & Bachman, 1854)
Also calledArdilla antilope de Sonora (spa) · Ardilla antílope de Sonora (spa) · Ardilla-antilope de Sonora (spa) · Citello antilope di Harris (ita) · Ecureuil-antilope d'Harris (fra) · Esquilo-antílope-de-Harris (por) · Harris-Antilopenziesel (deu) · Harrisgrondeekhoorn (nld) · piaszczyk pustynny (pol) · sysel Harrisův (ces) · yumanorava (fin) · Αμμοσπερμόφιλος του Harris (ell) · Антилоповый суслик Харриса (rus) · ハリスレイヨウジリス (jpn)
First described in: Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America vol.3 p.267
Harris's antelope squirrel (Ammospermophilus harrisii) is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. It is found in Arizona and New Mexico in the United States, and in Sonora in Mexico. They are adapted to hot weather conditions including a technique called "heat dumping". They have a wide-ranging diet, including both vegetation, insects, small rodents and carrion.
Descriptions from checklists and floras indexed by GBIF
activity
Activity patterns. A diurnal squirrel that does not hibernate in winter, estivate in summer or store fat and remains active in the high temperatures found in the desert. Climbs thorny shrubs and cacti effectively. Often seen alert atop vegetation or rapidly running with tail head overhead. Can be a minor nuisance in urban desertcities.
Sciuridae
biology_ecology
Habitat. Diverse desert habitats with complex habitats of shrubs, small trees and cacti.
Sciuridae
biology_ecology
Movements, Home range and Social organization. Harris's Antelope Squirrel obtains water in its diet, especially from cacti, which enables activity throughout the summer heat. It lives in shallow burrows and moves an average maximum distance of 274 m. Densities are moderate and adults are solitary. Alarm call is a long pure-noted trill that carries well in modestly complex desert habitats.
Sciuridae
breeding
Breeding. Harris's Antelope Squirrel inhabits burrows with a vegetation-lined nest chamber in which young are born. Breeding starts in December and continues through spring. A single litter averaging 6 - 5 is born after a 30 day gestation; young emerge after 30 - 35 days and are weaned after c. 2 more weeks. Adult size is achieved by ¢. 217 days. Two litters may be born in more mild climates.
Sciuridae
From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA), quoted section by section
Range & habitat
The habitat of A. harrisii ranges across the Southwestern United States, specifically in Arizona and the southwest of New Mexico. The range extends outside the US into Mexico into the northwest of the state of Sonora. They are designated as a non-game animal by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. While the species is not endangered, the range of its habitats is being reduced by human developments. Their diet includes the fruit and seeds of local cactus plants, as well as beans of the mesquite plant. They do not only eat vegetation, and also consume insects, small rodents and carrion. They have a variety of predators including the bobcat, coyotes, as well as local snakes and domestic animals such as dogs and cats.
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From the GBIF Backbone Taxonomy and occurrence records (GBIF.org), with Wikipedia and the Source Library. GBIF species 2437568.