Spermophilus townsendii

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	RODENTIA	SCIURIDAE

Scientific Name:

Spermophilus townsendii

Species Authority:

Bachman, 1839

Common Name/s:

English

–

Townsend's Ground Squirrel

Taxonomic Notes:

Spermophilus canus and S. mollis formerly were included in S. townsendii. Baker et al. (2003) and Thorington and Hoffmann (in Wilson and Reeder 2005) recognized the three taxa as distinct species, noting their distinct cytotypes and lack of hybridization.

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable B1ab(iii,v) ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

Yensen, E. & NatureServe (Hammerson, G.)

Reviewer/s:

Amori, G., Koprowski, J. & Roth, L. (Small Nonvolant Mammal Red List Authority)

Contributor/s:

Justification:
Listed as Vulnerable because its extent of occurrence is estimated to be only about 6,700 km², less than 10% of its original habitat remains and continues to decline in extent and quality, and populations are highly fragmented, and it is considered a pest and subject to control in some areas.

History:

2000	–	Data Deficient
1996	–	Data Deficient

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is restricted to the Yakima River Valley of Washington in the United States, west of the Yakima River and in the Horse Heaven Hills to the south of the valley (Hafner et al 1998). The entire area of the species' range appears to be less than 7,000 km².
Countries:	Native: United States (Washington)
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Remaining populations of this species are fragmented and isolated. There are no estimates of population density available.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This species is found mainly in high desert shrubland. It generally occurs in well-drained soils, especially embankments. It makes extensive burrow systems. Young are born in a nest chamber in an underground burrow. In Idaho, juvenile dispersal distance over two years was 146-1,076 metres (mean 515 metres over the two years) (Olson and Van Horne 1998). Main diet includes herbaceous vegetation (grasses, forbs, and exotic annuals), and seeds; it may also eat some shrub parts and animal matter. Will often feed on crops. May climb bushes while foraging. Emerges from dormancy in late winter or early spring (males before females) but returns to dormancy during May-July, when grasses dry out. May have separate period of activity in fall. It is most active in the early morning.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

This species is found mainly in high desert shrubland. It generally occurs in well-drained soils, especially embankments. It makes extensive burrow systems. Young are born in a nest chamber in an underground burrow. In Idaho, juvenile dispersal distance over two years was 146-1,076 metres (mean 515 metres over the two years) (Olson and Van Horne 1998).

Main diet includes herbaceous vegetation (grasses, forbs, and exotic annuals), and seeds; it may also eat some shrub parts and animal matter. Will often feed on crops. May climb bushes while foraging. Emerges from dormancy in late winter or early spring (males before females) but returns to dormancy during May-July, when grasses dry out. May have separate period of activity in fall. It is most active in the early morning.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Less than 10% of the species' original habitat remains and most of its range is on private land. This species causes agricultural damage in some areas and has been subject to control programs.

Major Threat(s):

Less than 10% of the species' original habitat remains and most of its range is on private land. This species causes agricultural damage in some areas and has been subject to control programs.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	This species is not known to occur in protected areas. To protect this species it is necessary to prevent overgrazing and limit the expansion of agriculture.

Conservation Actions:

This species is not known to occur in protected areas. To protect this species it is necessary to prevent overgrazing and limit the expansion of agriculture.

Citation:	Yensen, E. & NatureServe (Hammerson, G.) 2008. Spermophilus townsendii. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 18 June 2013.
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