Richardson’s Ground Squirrel Brain

Description

Richardson’s Ground Squirrel Brain Replica measures 1.2 x .8 x .6 inches. Richardson’s Ground Squirrel Brain is museum quality polyurethan resin cast. Made in USA. Our Ground Squirrel brain can be used as a teaching tool, museum brain exhibit, home brain decor or office decor.

Richardson’s Ground Squirrel or Urocitellus richardsonii, also known as the dakrat or flickertail, is a North American ground squirrel in the genus Urocitellus. Like a number of other ground squirrels, they are sometimes called prairie dogs or gophers.

This squirrel was named after the Scottish naturalist Sir John Richardson. North Dakota is nicknamed the Flickertail state after the squirrel. The nickname Dakrat is derived from “Dakota Rat” and is a commonly used name around Minot, North Dakota and on Minot Air Force Base.

Native to the short grass prairies, Richardson’s ground squirrel is found mainly in the northern states of the United States, such as North Dakota and Montana, and in western Canada, including central and southern Alberta, southern Saskatchewan, and southern Manitoba. The range of this animal expanded as forests were cleared to create farmland. They are not simply restricted to prairie; sometimes they adapt to suburban environments, causing them to be seen as pests because of the burrows they dig. It is not unusual to find squirrels digging tunnels under the sidewalks and patios of urban homes.

Typical adults are about 12 in. long. Weights vary greatly with time of year and with location: at emergence from hibernation the squirrels weigh between 200 and 275 g (0.441–0.606 lb) for females and between 350 and 450 g (0.77–0.99 lb) for males. But by the time they hibernate again, their weight may have risen to nearly 750 grams (1.65 lb). Males are slightly larger and heavier than females on average. They are dark brown on the upper side and tan underneath. The tail is shorter and less bushy than in other ground squirrels, and the external ears are so short as to look more like holes in the animal’s head. Behavior is more like that of a prairie dog than a typical ground squirrel. The tail is constantly trembling, so the animal is sometimes called the “flickertail”.

Males have an average life expectancy of 3 years, while females average 4 years. However, in captivity some individuals may live for 5 to 7 years.

Recent research has shown that in some cases, ultrasonic alarm calls are given, and are responded to by other members of the colony. Richardson’s ground squirrels use two audible alarm calls, a high-pitched whistle and a ‘chirp’ call. The whistle is given in response to terrestrial predators, while the chirp is given in response to aerial predators such as hawks.

Predators include hawks, owls, snakes, weasels, American badgers and coyotes.

These animals are omnivores, eating seeds, nuts, grains, grasses and insects (especially crickets, caterpillars and grasshoppers). They stuff their cheek pouches with seeds, which are stored in the burrow and likely eaten in spring. They are also reported to cannibalize ground squirrels killed by road traffic.

Female Richardson’s ground squirrels produce one litter per year. Litter size averages 6, though the maximum size recorded is 14. The young are born in April or May. Young ground squirrels remain underground in the burrow until they are approximately 30 days old, emerging from natal burrows late May to mid-June. At emergence, the young weigh 50 to 100 grams.

Conservation status: Least Concern
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Genus: Urocitellus
Species: U. richardsonii
Binomial name: Urocitellus richardsonii