Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male) 1 (low) years.Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female) 1 (low) years.Timing of the breeding seasons varies, depending upon when the animals end their hibernation. Breeding season Breeding begins shortly after emergence from hibernation.gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate).( Cato, 2003 Evans and Holdenried, 1943 Whitaker, Jr., 1980) In the first year of life, some ground squirrels remain above ground and do not hibernate. They reach sexual maturity no sooner than 1 year old. Young may begin to burrow at 8 weeks of age. Molting for young begins a few weeks after they emerge from their burrows. The coloring of the young is somewhat lighter than that of adults. They first leave burrows at 5 to 8 weeks of age, and are wenaed between 6 and 8 weeks. beecheyi may open their eyes at around 5 weeks of age. Litters range in size from five to eleven young. Males possess abdominal testes which drop into a temporary scrotum during the breeding season only.įemales produce one litter per year after of a gestation period of roughly one month. This is highly dependent on the area and climate the squirrel inhabits, since the timing of hibernation varies geographically, with elevation, and with other ecological factors. As with most ground-dwelling squirrels, breeding occurs just after the animals emerge from their winter burrows. beecheyi occurs in early spring, typically for a few weeks only. Males may also mate with several females. They will often mate with more than one male, either through force or selectivity, and therefore the offspring of a single litter may have multiple paternity. Range length 330 to 508 mm 12.99 to 20.00 inįemales of this species are considered promiscuous.These animals range in weight from 280 to 738 g. The body length can range from 330 to 508 mm and tail length from 127-229 mm. California ground squirrels have a white ring around each eye. The underside is a lighter combination of light brown, gray and white. The bushy tail is a combination of the colors that appear on the back. The shoulders, neck and sides of this species are a lighter gray. Range elevation 0 to 2200 m 0.00 to 7217.85 ftĬalifornia ground squirrels have mottled fur, with gray, light and dark brown, and white present in their pelage.( Evans and Holdenried, 1943 MacClintock, 1970 Whitaker, Jr., 1980) By and large this species is widely distributed within its range. They can be found in urban, suburban and agricultural areas. You may find them down in valleys and up on rocky outcrops in the mountains, to an elevation of 2,200 m. The only habitat they do not use is deserts. You may find them colonizing fields, pastures, grasslands and in open areas such as oak woodlands. California ground squirrels are terrestrial, and semifossorial, requiring habitats with some loose soil where they can excavate an appropriate burrow. Spermophilus beecheyi has successfully exploited many habitat types. This species also occurs in portions of southwestern Washington, and Baja California. Spermophilus beecheyi is found throughout most of California, most of Western Oregon and portions of Western Nevada.
0 kommentar(er)
