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Taxa

Otospermophilus

Mammal Genera

Otospermophilus is a genus of ground squirrel in the tribe Marmotini of the squirrel family Sciuridae, described by Brandt in 1844. It contains three species distributed across Mexico and the United States: the Baja California rock squirrel (Otospermophilus atricapillus), the California ground squirrel (Otospermophilus beecheyi), and the rock squirrel (Otospermophilus variegatus). The genus was formerly classified within Spermophilus as a subgenus or species group, until DNA sequencing of the cytochrome b gene showed Spermophilus was paraphyletic relative to prairie dogs and marmots, and Otospermophilus was separated as an independent genus along with six other genera.

Facts
Taxonomic Rank
Genus 2
Member Count Band
Under 10 Species 3
Era First Appeared
Neogene 4
Classification
Living or Extinct
Yes 1
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Mexico

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Otospermophilus (Wikipedia)Lead paragraph
Quote, Lead paragraph
Otospermophilus is a genus of ground squirrels in the family Sciuridae, containing three species from Mexico and the United States.
United States

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Otospermophilus (Wikipedia)Lead paragraph
Quote, Lead paragraph
Otospermophilus is a genus of ground squirrels in the family Sciuridae, containing three species from Mexico and the United States.
Sources
1. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ943215, descriptionView the Source
2. Otospermophilus (Wikipedia)
  • Introduction
    Otospermophilus is a genus of ground squirrels in the family Sciuridae, containing three species from Mexico and the United States.
  • Taxonomic rank (structure-wave classification, ruling 761/926)
View the Source
3. Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank): Taxon metrics for Otospermophilus
Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank)Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCount
Quote, Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCount
"speciesExtantCount": 3
View the Source
4. Paleobiology Database: Taxon record for Otospermophilus
Paleobiology DatabaseTaxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)
Quote, Taxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)
"taxon_name": "Otospermophilus" ... "firstapp_max_ma": 23.04 ... "early_interval": "Aquitanian"
View the Source
Wikidata: Otospermophilus
Wikidata Q943215, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source
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