PROFILBARU.COM

Mount Graham red squirrel
Conservation status
	; Critically Imperiled (NatureServe)
	; Endangered (ESA)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Sciuridae
Genus:	Tamiasciurus
Species:	T. fremonti
Subspecies:	T. f. grahamensis
Trinomial name
	Tamiasciurus fremonti grahamensis; (J. A. Allen, 1894)
Synonyms
	Sciurus hudsonicus grahamensis J. A. Allen, 1894; Tamasciurus hudsonicus grahamensis (J. A. Allen, 1894);

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

Physical

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

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

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

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

^ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0". explorer.natureserve.org. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g "Mount Graham red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus grahamensis)". Environmental Conservation Online System. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
^ ^a ^b Shull, Alisa M. (3 June 1987). "Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Determination of Endangered Status for the Mount Graham Red Squirrel". Federal Register. 52 (106): 20994–20999. 52 FR 20994
^ Allen, J.A. (1894). "Descriptions of Five New North American Mammals". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 6: 347–350. Retrieved 6 September 2024 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
^ "Explore the Database". www.mammaldiversity.org. Retrieved 2021-09-11.
^ ^a ^b Fitzpatrick, Lesley; Genice Froehlich; Terry Johnson; Randall Smith; Barry Spicer (May 3, 1993). "Mount Graham red squirrel" (PDF). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Albuquerque, New Mexico. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
^ "The Natural History of the Mount Graham Red Squirrel". The University of Arizona. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "Mount Graham Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus grahamensis) 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation" (PDF). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Arizona Ecological Services Field Office Phoenix, Arizona. January 2008. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "The Mt. Graham Red Squirrel Research Program Project History". The University of Arizona. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
^ "Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Review of Vertebrate Wildlife for Listing as Endangered or Threatened Species" (PDF). Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. December 30, 1982. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
^ Shull, Alisa M. (21 May 1986). "Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Determination of Endangered Status and Critical Habitat for the Mount Graham Red Squirrel". Federal Register. 51 (98): 18630–18634. 51 FR 18630
^ Albeck-Ripka, Livia (October 25, 2017). "For an Endangered Animal, a Fire or Hurricane Can Mean the End". New York Times.
^ "US officials to consider protections for endangered Arizona squirrel". KTAR News. September 5, 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-09-10. Retrieved September 8, 2019.