Xerospermophilus perotensis (Merriam, 1893)
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6840226 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6818996 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/064D0660-FFAB-ED56-FF14-F54EF89DF36B |
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treatment provided by |
Diego |
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scientific name |
Xerospermophilus perotensis |
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Perote Ground Squirrel
Xerospermophilus perotensis View in CoL
French: Spermophile de Perote / German: Perote-Ziesel / Spanish: Ardilla terrestre de Perote
Taxonomy. Spermophilus perotensis Merriam, 1893 View in CoL ,
“Perote, Veracruz, Mexico.”
This species is monotypic.
Distribution. NE Puebla and extreme W Veracruz, in C Mexico.
Descriptive notes. Head-body 243-261 mm, tail 57-78 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. The Perote Ground Squirrel has grizzled yellowish brown dorsal pelage, with series of thin short incomplete black lines toward its posterior. Faint buffflecks or spots can occur in new pelage. Eyelids are white and distinct. Feet, lower limbs, and venter are pale buff. Upperside oftail is grizzled yellowish brown, with black becoming prominent toward tip; underside is ocherous buff, with well-defined black line evident near tip.
Habitat. High-elevation arid plains, open scrub, and rocky slopes at elevations of 2200-2700 m. The Perote Ground Squirrel does not occur in agricultural fields.
Food and Feeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but the Perote Ground Squirrel is herbivore.
Breeding. Mating ofthe Perote Ground Squirrel occurs in April-May, and pregnant females are found in June-August. Litters of 3-5 young are born in burrows and emerge in mid-July.
Activity patterns. The Perote Ground Squirrel is diurnal and terrestrial. It hibernates in burrows for 3-4 months each year, with individuals active for ¢.9 months (March— November). Adult males emerge before adult females and yearlings. Most adults have initiated hibernation by late September or early October, but juveniles may remain active until November.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no information available for this species.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red List. The Perote Ground Squirrel is federally listed as threatened in Mexico. Current population trend is decreasing. It is not hunted or trapped but is restricted to ¢.2500 km?. Major threats to conservation are habitat loss and fragmentation from encroachment of agriculture and grazing. Only ¢.30% oftheir potential habitat remains untransformed. In 82% of known localities, the Perote Ground Squirrel only remains in small habitat fragments along railways.
Bibliography. Best & Ceballos (1995), Fernandez (2012), Sanchez-Cordero et al. (2005), Thorington et al. (2012), Valdez & Ceballos (1997 2003).
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.
