Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

Washington Ground squirrel (Spermophilus washingtoni)

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae

Listing Status:   

General Information

Similar to other ground squirrel species, Spermophilus washingtoni individuals have short legs and small, rounded ears. The tail is short (32-65 mm), the rounded eyes are set high on the head, the postorbital processes are well developed, and the zygomatic arches expand posteriorly. The cheek teeth are high crowned. Greyish-white spots about 4 mm across mark the smoky-grey base color on their backs. The underside is grayish-white and extends up the sides of the body to a line connecting the shoulder and thighs. There is a white eye-ring. Weight varies seasonally between 120 and 300 grams. Males are slightly larger than females, with total body lengths of males and females ranging from 185 to 245 mm. Spermophilus washingtoni can be distinguished from other grounds squirrels (S. columbianus and S. beldingi) in the same area because they are smaller, with smaller ears and a spotted pelage, which the other two species lack. Spermophilus washingtoni have a hind foot of less than 43 mm, whereas the other two species have longer hind foot lengths. (Tomich, 1982; Verts and Carraway, 1998)

Lead Region:  Pacific Region (Region 1)

» Candidate Information

Current Candidate Status

Listing Priority: 5
Magnitude: High
Immediacy: Non-imminent
Taxonomy: Species
Species Assessment Form for the Washington Ground squirrel -- 142Kb.
Candidate Notice of Review Documents (Showing 5 of 10 : view all)
Date Citation Page Title
11/09/2009 74 FR 57803 57878 Review of Native Species That Are Candidates for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions
12/10/2008 73 FR 75175 75244 Review of Native Species That Are Candidates for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions; Proposed Rule
12/06/2007 72 FR 69033 69106 Review of Native Species That Are Candidates for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions; Proposed Rule
09/12/2006 71 FR 53755 53835 Review of Native Species That Are Candidates or Proposed for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions
05/11/2005 70 FR 24869 24934 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Review of Native Species That Are Candidates or Proposed for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions; Proposed Rule

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 5 of 12 : view all)
Date Citation Page Title
11/09/2009 74 FR 57803 57878 Review of Native Species That Are Candidates for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions
12/10/2008 73 FR 75175 75244 Review of Native Species That Are Candidates for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions; Proposed Rule
12/06/2007 72 FR 69033 69106 Review of Native Species That Are Candidates for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions; Proposed Rule
09/12/2006 71 FR 53755 53835 Review of Native Species That Are Candidates or Proposed for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions
05/11/2005 70 FR 24869 24934 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Review of Native Species That Are Candidates or Proposed for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions; Proposed Rule

» Conservation Plans

Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances (CCAA): (learn more) (Showing 1 of 1 )
CCAA Plan Summaries
Three Mile Canyon Farms Multi Species CCAA

» Petitions

No petition findings have been published for the Washington Ground squirrel.

» Life History

No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.

» Other Resources

NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

Last updated: February 9, 2010