Texas antelope squirrel

{{Short description|Species of rodent}} {{Speciesbox | name = Texas antelope squirrel | image = Texas antelope squirrel.jpg | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name=iucn>{{cite iucn |author=Timm, R. |author2=Álvarez-Castañeda, S.T. |author3=Castro-Arellano, I. |author4=Lacher, T. |year=2016 |errata=2017 |title=''Ammospermophilus interpres'' |volume=2016 |article-number=e.T42451A115189324 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T42451A22251620.en |access-date=11 December 2025}}</ref> | genus = Ammospermophilus | species = interpres | authority = (Merriam, 1890) | synonyms = }}

The '''Texas antelope squirrel''' ('''''Ammospermophilus interpres''''') is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. It is found in Mexico and in both Texas and New Mexico within the United States.

==Description== Adults can measure up to {{convert|220|-|235|mm|in}} long, and weigh {{convert|99|-|112|g|lb}}.<ref name=smith/> They have a white stripe along the side of their torso, highlighted with black markings both above and below the stripe. The rest of the fur is grey with either black or brown markings, with the exception of the underside of the tail which is also white.<ref name=journalmamm>{{cite journal|last=Best|first=Troy L.|author2=Lewis, Cynthia L.|author3=Caesar, Katherine|author4=Titus, Amy S.|title=''Ammospermophilus interpres''|journal=Mammalian Species|date=October 1990|issue=365|pages=1–6|url=http://www.science.smith.edu/msi/pdf/i0076-3519-365-01-0001.pdf|doi=10.2307/3504155|jstor=3504155 |url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-03-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303235025/http://www.science.smith.edu/msi/pdf/i0076-3519-365-01-0001.pdf}}</ref> They are active throughout the year and do not hibernate.<ref name=smith/> They are thought to have evolved to their present state by the Clarendonian period (13.6 to 10.3 mya).<ref name=journalmamm/>

The breeding cycle begins in February, with one to two litters of between five and fourteen young raised each year. The young remain in the nest until they are about a quarter grown, which coincides with the move to solid food. Their diet includes insects, seeds and berries, including the fruit and seeds of a variety of cactus species. One adult found in 1905 had eaten the fruit of ''Opuntia engelmannii'' in sufficient quantities that its flesh was tinted purple.<ref name=journalmamm/>

==Habitat== ''A. interpres'' nests in burrows or in crevices amongst rocks,<ref name=smith/> usually close to bushes or shrubs.<ref name=iucn/> Within the United States they are found in western Texas, and in parts of south central New Mexico. They are also found in northern Mexico, including in the Chihuahuan Desert.<ref name=smith>{{cite web|title=''Ammospermophilus interpres''|url=http://www.mnh.si.edu/mna/image_info.cfm?species_id=5|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240630131316/https://naturalhistory.si.edu/north-american-mammals?species_id=5|archive-date=30 June 2024|publisher=Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History|access-date=13 January 2013}}</ref> Because of the wide range of their habitat, they are listed as least concern by the IUCN Red List. While they are commonly found within pockets of the United States, they are common throughout their range within Mexico. Their main threat from humans comes from accidental trapping or poisoning within the United States,<ref name=iucn/> although they are eaten in some parts of Mexico.<ref>{{cite web|last=Harris|first=Arthur H.|title=Desert Diary: Mammals/Antelope Squirrels |url=http://museum2.utep.edu/archive/mammals/DDsquirrel.htm|publisher=University of Texas at El Paso|access-date=13 January 2013}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

Category:Ammospermophilus Category:Fauna of the Southwestern United States Category:Rodents of Mexico Category:Rodents of the United States Category:Natural history of New Mexico Category:Natural history of Texas Category:Mammals described in 1890 Category:Taxa named by Clinton Hart Merriam Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot