Mount Graham red squirrel
| Mount Graham red squirrel | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Sciuridae |
| Genus: | Tamiasciurus |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: | T. f. grahamensis
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| Trinomial name | |
| Tamiasciurus fremonti grahamensis (J. A. Allen, 1894)
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| Synonyms | |
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The Mount Graham red squirrel (Tamiasciurus fremonti grahamensis) is an endangered subspecies of the southwestern red squirrel (Tamiasciurus fremonti)[5] native to the Pinaleño Mountains of Arizona. It is smaller than most other subspecies of red squirrel, and also does not have the white-fringed tail that is common to the species. Its diet consists mainly of mixed seeds, conifer cones and air-dried fungi. It exhibits similar behavior to other squirrels in its species.
Description
[edit | edit source]Physical
[edit | edit source]The Mount Graham red squirrel is a generally tiny squirrel weighing on average around 8 ounces (230 g) and measuring about 8 inches (20 cm) in length.[2] The subspecies also has a 6-inch (15 cm) tail.[2] Unlike most other squirrels in its species, the squirrels do not have a white-fringed tail.[2] Both females and males share similar markings and features and are typically grayish brown in color with rusty yellow or orange markings on their backside.[2] During the winter season, the squirrels' ears are tufted with fur, and during the summer a black lateral line is observed on the squirrel.[2][6] The skull of the subspecies is rounded and its teeth are low-crowned.[6]
Behavior
[edit | edit source]Mount Graham red squirrels behave in a manner similar to most other subspecies of American red squirrel. They are diurnal and do not hibernate during the winter months, but instead carry out activities in the mid-day sun.[7] Mount Graham squirrels usually eat a diet of mixed seeds, conifer cones and air-dried fungi.[8]
Habitat
[edit | edit source]Historically, the Mount Graham red squirrel inhabited about 11,750 acres (47.6 km2) of spruce-fir, mixed-conifer and ecotone zone habitats that were generally at higher elevations throughout the Pinaleño Mountains.[8] Recent data shows that it occurs more frequently at the ecotone zone than the other habitats.[8] When choosing a potential nesting site, the squirrels typically pick a cool, moist area with an abundance of food sources.[8] Drought, forest fires, and insect infestation have been responsible for a decrease of the squirrel in the spruce-fir habitat.[8]
Conservation
[edit | edit source]The Mount Graham subspecies was believed to be extinct in the 1950s, but was "rediscovered" in the 1970s.[9] After its rediscovery, it was suggested for threatened or endangered species status under the Endangered Species Act in 1982.[10] On May 21, 1986, the subspecies was officially recommended to become an endangered species,[11] and effective June 3, 1987, was listed as endangered.[2][3] The Mount Graham International Observatory was controversial when it was built in the squirrel's habitat; the observatory has been required to monitor the community near the observatory to determine if its construction is having any negative effects on the population.[9] Habitat loss is also occurring at high levels for a variety of natural and anthropogenic reasons.[9] In 1988, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated most of this area as a refuge, and access to the area is granted only with a special permit.[9] A lightning strike on June 7, 2017, started a wildfire that could have led to the extinction of this subspecies.[12]
In September 2019, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed to consider if the squirrel needed further protection. They were petitioned under a procedure of the Endangered Species Act by a group that contends it is necessary to remove the observatory and other private structures.[13]
References
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External links
[edit | edit source]
- USFWS Page
- Mount Graham Red Squirrel Research Program at School of Natural Resources and the Environment at University of Arizona
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