Rock Squirrel
Otospermophilus variegatus
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassMammalia (Mammals)
- OrderRodentia (Rodents)
- FamilySciuridae (Squirrels)
- GenusOtospermophilus (North American Rock Squirrels)
- SpeciesOtospermophilus variegatus (Rock Squirrel)
About the Rock Squirrel
The rock squirrel (Otospermophilus variegatus) is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. It is native to Mexico and the Southwestern United States, including southern Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and the panhandle of Oklahoma.
In Texas, they can be found in the western, central and Panhandle regions. They are especially common in the Texas Hill Country, a Subregion in central Texas. Rock squirrels are one of the largest members of the family Scuridae, with adults measuring up to 21 inches (53 cm) in length. In front and on top, the squirrel's coat is a speckled grayish brown; on the rear and bottom, the gray becomes a more mottled brownish-black tone. They have a marked light-colored ring around their eyes and pointed ears that project well above their heads. Rock squirrels have a long, bushy tail with white edges.
The female rock squirrel has two litters a year, with three to nine young in each litter. The first litter is typically born from April to June, while the second is born in August or September. They are active in the early morning and late afternoons when the weather is warm; when very hot, they... Wikipedia →
Closest Relatives at Saguaro National Park
Round-tailed Ground Squirrel
Xerospermophilus tereticaudus
Harris' Antelope Squirrel
Ammospermophilus harrisii
Cliff Chipmunk
Tamias dorsalis
Abert's Squirrel
Sciurus aberti
Arizona Gray Squirrel
Sciurus arizonensis
Arizona Cotton Rat
Sigmodon arizonae
White-throated Woodrat
Neotoma albigula
Desert Pocket Mouse
Chaetodipus penicillatus
Merriam's Kangaroo Rat
Dipodomys merriami
Cactus Mouse
Peromyscus eremicus
Yellow-nosed Cotton Rat
Sigmodon ochrognathus
Bailey's Pocket Mouse
Chaetodipus baileyi
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zion National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Grand Canyon National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Saguaro National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Big Bend National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Guadalupe Mountains National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 7 | Rocky Mountain National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Rock Squirrel in Saguaro National Park?
About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Rock Squirrel sighting in Saguaro National Park, based on 723 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Rock Squirrel in Saguaro National Park?
March has the highest sighting rate for Rock Squirrel in Saguaro National Park in our monthly data.