Rio Grande Ground Squirrel (Ictidomys parvidens) lives in grassy plains across Southwest North America. It feeds on seeds and insects. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Rio Grande Ground Squirrel
- The Rio Grande ground squirrel is a brown rodent marked with nine broken rows of squarish white spots across its back, a pattern that is less distinct than that of the thirteen-lined ground squirrel. Adults measure between 29.9 cm and 35.2 cm in length, a size that distinguishes it from its larger relatives.
- A single Rio Grande ground squirrel typically maintains more than one burrow, and each burrow can contain up to five escape tunnels that are hidden without a surface mound of dirt. Most burrows also include a sleeping chamber lined with grasses for the young.
- The Rio Grande ground squirrel has a highly varied omnivorous diet that includes seeds, nuts, grains, roots, bulbs, plant stems, leaves, mice, insects and eggs, and it has even been documented eating roadkill. It often gathers seeds, grains and nuts in its cheek pouches to transport back to its den for later consumption.
- The average litter size is five, but can range from one to ten, showing considerable variation in offspring numbers. Females build a nesting chamber in their burrow during the mating season and line it with mesquite and grass, creating a warm, insulated space for the newborns. The young are born toothless and without fur, remaining with their mother for three months before venturing out on their own.
- In western Texas and southeastern New Mexico the Rio Grande ground squirrel hybridises with the thirteen-lined ground squirrel, producing mixed offspring where their ranges overlap. This hybridisation occurs in areas where the squirrel is often associated with mesquite and cholla, habitats that support both species.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeSouthwest North America
HabitatGrassy plains
DietSeeds and insects
About the Rio Grande Ground Squirrel
In the sun-baked expanses of the American Southwest, the Rio Grande Ground Squirrel darts with nimble precision, its tawny coat blending seamlessly into the dusty terrain as it forages for seeds and fruits with industrious zeal. With a twitch of its bushy tail, it vanishes into the intricate network of burrows it has meticulously crafted, a hidden world of tunnels and chambers that shield it from the unforgiving desert landscape. As it moves through its domain, the Rio Grande Ground Squirrel embodies a remarkable synergy of adaptability and resilience, thriving in one of the most inhospitable environments on the continent.
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