White-tailed Antelope Squirrel

Ammospermophilus leucurus

The White-tailed Antelope Squirrel is a small, lively creature with a fluffy white tail. They love to scurry around in the desert, finding food and playing with friends.

Hábitat: Desert

Aspecto

The White-tailed Antelope Squirrel has a grayish-brown back with a distinctive white stripe along each side of its body, and a white belly. Its bushy tail is pure white underneath and is often held curled over its back.

ReinoAnimaliaFiloChordataClaseMammaliaOrdenRodentiaFamiliaSciuridaeGéneroAmmospermophilus

White-tailed Antelope Squirrel

Categoría

Mamíferos

Rareza

Common

Peligro

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Snaps

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Datos interesantes

These tough little squirrels can safely eat scorpions, even their venomous stingers!

They flash their bright white tail as a signal to warn other squirrels of danger!

They hold their white tail like a tiny umbrella over their back when running!

This desert squirrel is active all year, never hibernating like many other squirrels!

Habilidades especiales

White-tailed Antelope Squirrel can quickly release body heat by shunting blood to its large white tail, which acts like a radiator.

White-tailed Antelope Squirrel can withstand high body temperatures up to 43°C (109°F), enduring extreme desert heat without overheating.

White-tailed Antelope Squirrel has a distinct white stripe that blurs when running, confusing predators about its exact location.

Medidas y detalles

Longitud: 20-25 cm
Peso: 0.08-0.14 kg
Esperanza de vida: 2-5 años
Top Speed: 20 km/h
Tamaño de la camada: 5-12
Gestación: 30-31 días

Dieta y alimentación

An omnivore with a varied diet, munching on seeds, fruits, insects, and even tough desert critters.

Alimentos principales

Seeds
Cactus fruit
Insects
Scorpions
Green plants

Método de búsqueda

Foraging

Conexiones ecológicas

eaten by

Red-tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis

A common avian predator in their desert habitat.

eaten by

Coyote

Canis latrans

An opportunistic predator in the desert ecosystem.

eaten by

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Crotalus atrox

Known to prey on these squirrels and their young.

eats

Creosote Bush

Larrea tridentata

Consumes seeds and green parts of this resilient desert plant.

Rasgos

Peludo

Peludo describe a los animales que poseen una cubierta densa de pelo o pelaje suave.

Social

Los animales sociales viven en grupos organizados, cooperando para obtener beneficios de supervivencia como la búsqueda de alimento, la defensa y la cría de descendencia.

Excavador

Los animales excavadores cavan túneles y cámaras en el suelo y utilizan estas estructuras subterráneas para refugiarse, cazar o reproducirse.

Herbívoro

Este rasgo caracteriza a los organismos cuya dieta consiste total o principalmente en material vegetal.

Desierto

Los hábitats desérticos son regiones áridas caracterizadas por precipitaciones extremadamente bajas y, a menudo, temperaturas extremas, que albergan una flora y fauna especializadas.