Round-tailed Ground Squirrel
Xerospermophilus tereticaudus
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassMammalia (Mammals)
- OrderRodentia (Rodents)
- FamilySciuridae (Squirrels)
- GenusXerospermophilus (Pygmy Ground Squirrels)
- SpeciesXerospermophilus tereticaudus (Round-tailed Ground Squirrel)
About the Round-tailed Ground Squirrel
The round-tailed ground squirrel (Xerospermophilus tereticaudus), known as "Ardillón cola redonda" in Spanish, live in the desert of the Southwestern United States and Northwestern Mexico. They are called "ground squirrels" because they burrow in loose soil, often under mesquite trees and creosote bushes.
Most round-tailed ground squirrels are very small. Weight at birth is approximately 3.9 grams (0.14 oz). Adults weigh around 125 grams (4.4 oz). All have a long round tail and long, hairy hind feet. They have no fur markings, instead having a uniform sandy color, which matches the soil they burrow in. The underside of their body is usually a lighter shade. Round tailed squirrels average 204 to 278 millimetres (8.0 to 10.9 in) in length including the tail which is from 60 to 112 millimetres (2.4 to 4.4 in) long.
The gestation period is 28 days. An average of 5.4 pups are born in each litter. They reach sexual maturity at 325 days. There is little information on the longevity of these animals but one wild born specimen lived to approximately 8.9 years in captivity. They are prey animals for coyotes, badgers, hawks and snakes. Round-tailed ground... Wikipedia →
Closest Relatives at Saguaro National Park
Rock Squirrel
Otospermophilus variegatus
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 | Saguaro National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Joshua Tree National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Death Valley National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Round-tailed Ground Squirrel in Saguaro National Park?
About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Round-tailed Ground Squirrel sighting in Saguaro National Park, based on 576 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Round-tailed Ground Squirrel in Saguaro National Park?
March has the highest sighting rate for Round-tailed Ground Squirrel in Saguaro National Park in our monthly data.