How big does a Mohave ground squirrel get? Here is an overview over the average adult age:
A grown Mohave ground squirrel (Spermophilus mohavensis) reaches an average size of 15.7 cm (0′ 7″).
When born, they have an average size of 0 cm (0′ 0″). A full-grown exemplary reaches roughly 213 grams (0.47 lbs). On birth they have a weight of 4 grams (0.01 lbs). A Mohave ground squirrel has 6 babies at once. The Mohave ground squirrel (genus: Spermophilus) is a member of the family Sciuridae.
As a reference: Humans reach an average body size of 1.65m (5′ 5″) while carrying 62 kg (137 lbs). A human woman is pregnant for 280 days (40 weeks) and on average become 75 years old.
The Mohave ground squirrel (Xerospermophilus mohavensis) is a species of ground squirrel found only in the Mojave Desert in California. The squirrel was discovered in 1886 by Frank Stephens of San Diego (after whom the Stephens soft-haired ground squirrel is named). It is listed as a threatened species under the California Endangered Species Act, but not under the federal Endangered Species Act. The IUCN lists this species as vulnerable.The Mojave ground squirrel measures about nine inches from nose to tail and feeds on leaves and seeds from February to July. Near the end of July, the squirrels begin a period of estivation, but this may occur as early as April in drought years. Litters do not survive if drought years force an early hibernation. Local populations can be wiped out if a drought lasts for multiple years.This squirrel inhabits the western Mojave Desert in portions of Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino counties. It can occupy Joshua tree woodlands, creosote scrub, saltbush scrub and mojave mixed woody scrub. Typical forage plants are those that meet nutritional and water content requirements. These can include shrubs such as winterfat, spiny hopsage, and boxthorn (Lycium spp.). Preferred annuals include Coreopsis spp., Eremalche spp., Astragalus spp., and lupine.Soils are usually friable and conducive to burrow excavation. Areas of preferred habitat include habitat types that provide ample forage to allow Mohave ground squirrels to persist during drought periods. These persistent populations may act as core areas from which populations expand from during adequate rainfall years which are required for Mohave ground squirrels to reproduce. This dynamic expansion and contraction in populations can make it challenging to determine whether the species is present since extended periods of drought can cause a die-off on local populations until surrounding populations expand during consecutive reproductive years.Mohave ground squirrels emit a high-pitched “peep” as an alarm call, when startled or when young begin to emerge from their natal burrows. The vocalization is sometimes confused with that of the horned lark. Mohave ground squirrels can occasionally be sighted perched in Lycium cooperii or in Creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) during mid-morning (9-11 a.m.) hours (April–June) basking in the sun.Males emerge from hibernation in early February and females are soon to follow. Reproduction occurs in early March and gestation lasts for about four weeks. Litters range from 4-6 individuals. Juveniles emerge from the natal burrows in late May to Mid June. Predators include badgers, coyotes, snakes, falcons and hawks.
Animals of the same family as a Mohave ground squirrel
We found other animals of the Sciuridae family:
- Black-striped squirrel with a size of 20.3 cm (0′ 8″)
- Siberian chipmunk with a size of 14.8 cm (0′ 6″)
- Mexican fox squirrel with a size of 28.3 cm (1′ 0″)
- Siskiyou chipmunk with a size of 14.5 cm (0′ 6″)
- Green bush squirrel with a size of 19.1 cm (0′ 8″)
- Grizzled giant squirrel with 3 babies per litter
- Speckled ground squirrel with 5 babies per litter
- Asia Minor ground squirrel with 5 babies per litter
- Zanj sun squirrel with a weight of 347 grams
- Red-tailed squirrel with a size of 22.2 cm (0′ 9″)
Animals with the same size as a Mohave ground squirrel
Not that size really matters, but it makes things comparable. So here are a couple of animals that are as big as Mohave ground squirrel:
- Ochre bush squirrel with a size of 16 cm (0′ 7″)
- Indian hedgehog with a size of 18 cm (0′ 8″)
- Southern marsupial mole with a size of 13.4 cm (0′ 6″)
- Western New Guinea mountain rat with a size of 13.1 cm (0′ 6″)
- Yellow-nosed cotton rat with a size of 15.1 cm (0′ 6″)
- Northern red-sided opossum with a size of 13.5 cm (0′ 6″)
- California vole with a size of 13.9 cm (0′ 6″)
- Indian hedgehog with a size of 18 cm (0′ 8″)
- Short-tailed hopping mouse with a size of 14.5 cm (0′ 6″)
- Black-tailed mosaic-tailed rat with a size of 13.6 cm (0′ 6″)
Animals with the same litter size as a Mohave ground squirrel
Here is a list of animals that have the same number of babies per litter (6) as a Mohave ground squirrel:
- Afghan pika
- Woolly mouse opossum
- Seven-banded armadillo
- Bronze quoll
- Philippine warty pig
- Wyoming pocket gopher
- Dwarf shrew
- Little red kaluta
- Perote ground squirrel
- Cinereus shrew
Animals with the same weight as a Mohave ground squirrel
As a comparison, here are some other animals that weight as much as the Spermophilus mohavensis:
- Speckled ground squirrel bringing 252 grams to the scale
- Greedy olalla rat bringing 206 grams to the scale
- Northern treeshrew bringing 200 grams to the scale
- Large New Guinea spiny rat bringing 194 grams to the scale
- Bolaños woodrat bringing 198 grams to the scale
- Pteropus brunneus bringing 200 grams to the scale
- Four-toed elephant shrew bringing 201 grams to the scale
- Afghan pika bringing 250 grams to the scale
- Biak naked-backed fruit bat bringing 200 grams to the scale
- Indian hedgehog bringing 171 grams to the scale