Fun Texas Antelope Squirrel Facts For Kids
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The Texas antelope squirrel (Ammospermophilus interpres) is a species of squirrel that belongs to the family Sciuridae. It is a medium-sized ground squirrel that possesses a characteristic white stripe stretching from the shoulder towards the rump on each side.
The underside of its tail is grayish-white in color and there are three brown to black-colored stripes present on the lateral sides of the tail.
The upper parts of this squirrel are buff-colored in the summer season and they become drab-gray in the winter season. It ranges between 2.9-4.2 oz (84-121 g) in weight and has an average length of 8.8 in (22.6 cm).
It can be spotted in western Texas, northern Mexico such as the Chihuahuan Desert, and regions of south-central New Mexico. They inhabit low hills and lower valley edges in these southwest desert regions and they also love to inhabit rocky slopes and hard-surfaced gravel washes.
Crevices among rocks are also popular among these small creatures and they are often also spotted near juniper and creosote vegetation.
This squirrel does not hibernate and it breeds in the month of February. Keep reading to discover more interesting facts about the diet, breeding, habitat, physical description, and more of these squirrels!
If you enjoyed reading our Texas antelope fun facts, you must check out our gopher surprising facts and feathertail glider interesting facts!
Texas Antelope Squirrel Interesting Facts
What type of animal is a Texas antelope squirrel?
The Texas antelope squirrel (Ammospermophilus interpres) is a species of squirrel.
What class of animal does a Texas antelope squirrel belong to?
This squirrel belongs to the class Mammalia and the genus Ammospermophilus
How many Texas antelope squirrels are there in the world?
The population of the Texas antelope squirrel is not yet known. This species is not commonly seen by humans but it is widespread across western Texas.
Where does a Texas antelope squirrel live?
These squirrels dwell in the United States and can be found throughout western Texas but their range also stretches to northern Mexico, including the Chihuahuan Desert, and regions of south-central New Mexico. They can be spotted throughout the Trans-Pecos area and their range extends to the Edward Plateau's western region 5oo.
They inhabit low hills and lower valley edges in southwest desert regions and they also love to inhabit rocky slopes and hard-surfaced gravel washes.
What is a Texas antelope squirrel's habitat?
These squirrels are diurnal. They typically nest in the burrows they dig on their own.
However, crevices in rocks are also a preference. The burrows of these squirrels can be found near bushes or in a cut bank, or a boulder. The insides of these burrows are filled with the fur of mammals, leaves, bark, and dried grass.
They confine their nesting sites to broken, rocky terrain on the Edwards Plateau where there is scarce ground cover. The majority of their time is spent on the ground. However, they can also be occasionally spotted on tops of yuccas, prickly pears, and low bushes.
These ground squirrels are not known to hibernate. They dwell in low hills and lower valley edges in southwest desert regions.
Who do Texas antelope squirrels live with?
They are known to forage and live alone until it's time to nest and breed.
How long does a Texas antelope squirrel live?
The lifespan of this species is not yet known. However, we do know that ground squirrels have an average lifespan of 6-10 years.
How do they reproduce?
These squirrels nest in the burrows that they dig on their own. These burrows are typically located in a cut bank, a boulder, or at the side of bushes.
The breeding of this species takes place in February and females can produce 5-14 young in one litter. The young remain in their parent's nest until they are able to start feeding upon solid food.
What is their conservation status?
The conservation status of this species is Least Concern according to the IUCN's Red List.
Texas Antelope Squirrel Fun Facts
What do Texas antelope squirrels look like?
The Texas antelope squirrel is a medium-sized ground squirrel that features a distinctive white stripe that runs down to the rump from the shoulder on each side of its body. It has a 2.9 in (7.4 cm) long tail whose undersides are grayish-white in color.
The tail also possesses brown to black-colored stripes on its sides. They also have cute short ears.
Interestingly, the upper parts of this squirrel are buff-colored in the summer season and they become drab-gray in the winter season. It has an average length of 8.8 in (22.6 cm).
Males range between 3.3-4.2 oz (94-121 g) in weight and females range between 2.9-4 oz (84-115 g) in weight. The legs of this squirrel are rusty-red in color, especially in the summer season.
How cute are they?
This species of squirrel is very cute. The Texas antelope squirrel possesses adorable short ears and a small body. Their furry tail is also quite cute!
How do they communicate?
These small creatures are quite vocal and they communicate with each other through their body language and calls. They have also been observed to produce alarm calls if they spot a predator.
How big is a Texas antelope squirrel?
This squirrel has an average length of 8.8 in (22.6 cm).
How fast can a Texas antelope squirrel run?
This squirrel is nervous, highly active, and a fidgety animal. They are quite agile and can gain a very fast speed. They can also climb efficiently.
How much does a Texas antelope squirrel weigh?
Males range between 3.3-4.2 oz (94-121 g) in weight and females range between 2.9-4 oz (84-115 g) in weight.
What are their male and female names of the species?
They are simply called a Texas antelope squirrel male and a Texas antelope squirrel female.
What would you call a baby Texas antelope squirrel?
A Texas antelope squirrel baby is referred to as a kitten, kit, or pup!
What do they eat?
The diet of this squirrel includes fruits, seeds (cactus seeds), the stems of yucca, salt grass, juniper, cholla cactus, prickly pear, sotol, mesquite, and creosote bush. They may also occasionally eat insects.
Young squirrels remain in their parent's nests until they are able to start feeding upon solid food like berries, seeds, and insects. This species is preyed upon by snakes, coyotes, hawks, cats, and dogs.
Are they dangerous?
No, these squirrels aren't dangerous. However, they may bite if a human tries to harm them. They are also known to cause harm to plants and trees
Would they make a good pet?
No, these wild animals would not make great pets, even the cute Texas antelope squirrel babies!
Did you know...
Antelope ground squirrels stay active even in the hottest temperatures in Texas. However, they occasionally lie on the ground to lose the extra heat that their body has accumulated. This helps them to regain a safe body temperature!
The spotted ground squirrel species can be found dwelling in El Paso!
Are Texas antelope squirrels nocturnal?
No, these squirrels are not nocturnal. They are diurnal.
What is the difference between antelope squirrels and ground squirrels?
The ground squirrel species lacks head stripes but possesses body stripes, similar to those of chipmunks. Their tail is less bushy and shorted.
The fur of these squirrels features white and gray spots and is mainly grayish-brown in color. On the other hand, antelope squirrel species are primarily gray in coloration. There are white-colored stripes present on both sides of their bodies and they possess a black-colored bushy tail.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals from our white-tailed antelope squirrel surprising facts and ground squirrel interesting facts pages.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable squirrel coloring pages.
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