{{Short description|Species of rodent}} {{Speciesbox | name = Mexican ground squirrel | image = Ground Squirrel From Teotihuacan, Mexico DSC09496.JPG | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 13 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Linzey, A.V. |author2=Timm, R. |author3=Álvarez-Castañeda, S.T. |author4=Castro-Arellano, I. |author5=Lacher, T. |date=2016 |title=''Ictidomys mexicanus'' |volume=2016 |article-number=e.T20487A22262744 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T20487A22262744.en |access-date=13 November 2021}}</ref> | genus = Ictidomys | species = mexicanus | authority = (Erxleben, 1777) | synonyms = ''Spermophilus mexicanus'' }}

The '''Mexican ground squirrel''' ('''''Ictidomys mexicanus''''') is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae.<ref name=mammalian>{{cite web|title=Mammalian Species Spermophillus Mexicanus|url=https://academic.oup.com/mspecies/article/doi/10.2307/3503778/2600116|last1=Young|first1=Carole J.|last2=Knox Jones, Jr.|first2=J.|doi=10.2307/3503778 |jstor=3503778 }}</ref> It is endemic to central Mexico.<ref name="mammalian" /><ref name="Helgen2009">{{cite journal |last1=Helgen |first1=Kristofer M. |last2=Cole |first2=F. Russell |last3=Helgen |first3=Lauren E. |last4=Wilson |first4=Don E. |title=Generic Revision in the Holarctic Ground Squirrel Genus Spermophilus |journal=Journal of Mammalogy |date=April 14, 2009 |volume=90 |issue=2 |page=270-305 |doi = 10.1644/07-MAMM-A-309.1 |url=https://doi.org/10.1644/07-MAMM-A-309.1}}</ref>

==Description== The Mexican ground squirrel is a small to medium-sized rodent with nine rows of white spots on its back.<ref name="mammalian" /> It ranges in body length from {{convert|32.2|cm|in}} to {{convert|38.0|cm|in}}.<ref name="mammalian" />

==Distribution and habitat== The Mexican ground squirrel is found in central Mexico from Jalisco to Puebla.<ref name="mammalian"/> It typically occupies grasslands and brush habitats where it is often associated with mesquite and nopal cactus.<ref name="mammalian"/> It may also be found up to {{convert|3200|m|ft}}.<ref name="Davis1944">{{cite journal |last1=Davis |first1=William B. |title=Notes on Mexican Mammals |journal=Journal of Mammalogy |date=1944 |volume=25 |issue=4 |page=370-403 |doi=10.2307/1374900 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1374900}}</ref>

==Taxonomy== The Mexican ground squirrel was historically considered to have two disjunct subspecies; with one occurring in central Mexico (''Spermophilus mexicanus mexicanus'') and one occurring in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico (''Spermophilus mexicanus parvidens'').<ref name="mammalian" /> In 2009, the northern population was reclassified as a distinct species, the Rio Grande ground squirrel, due to its smaller body size and geographic isolation.<ref name="Helgen2009" />

==References== {{Reflist}}

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Category:Ictidomys Category:Rodents of Mexico Category:Rodents of the United States Category:Mammals described in 1777 Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Category:Taxa named by Johann Christian Polycarp Erxleben