Spermophilus (Xerospermophilus) mohavensis Merriam 1889

Spermophilus (Xerospermophilus) mohavensis Merriam 1889, N. Amer. Fauna, 2: 15.

Type Locality: "Mohave River, California [USA]." Restricted by Grinnell and Dixon (1918) to near Rabbit Springs, about 15 mi. (24 km) E Hesperia, San Bernardino Co.

Vernacular Names: Mohave Ground Squirrel.

Distribution: NW Mohave Desert and Owens Valley (S California, USA).

Conservation: IUCN – Vulnerable.

Discussion: Subgenus Xerospermophilus; (Hall, 1981:405). Most closely related to S. tereticaudus (Hafner and Yates, 1983); hybridizes at three localities, but the hybrid zone is narrow and stable (Hafner, 1992). Reviewed by Best (1995 i, Mammalian Species No. 509).