Daurian ground squirrel

Daurian ground squirrel
Daurian ground squirrel
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Genus: Spermophilus
Species: S. dauricus
Binomial name
Spermophilus dauricus
Brandt, 1843

The Daurian ground squirrel (Spermophilus dauricus) is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family. It is found in China, Mongolia, and Russia.

Contents

Distribution

The daurian ground squirrel has a wide range in north east China, extending into Mongolia and Transbaikalia region of Russia. There are two subspecies in China, S. d. mongolicus is found in Hebei, Beijing, Tianjin, Henan and Shandong, and S. d. ramosus, found in Jilin, Heilongjiang, Liaoning, eastern Inner Mongolia and Shanxi.[2]

Description

This small ground squirrel measures between 165 and 270 millimetres long with a short tail about one fifth of its body length. Its weight varies between 165 and 265 grams. The body colour is a buff or grayish-russet with no spotting. The tail is tipped with yellow and has a distinctive dark band immediately anterior to this. There is a pale ring round the eye which extends to the ear. The soles of the fore feet are bare while those of the hind feet are covered with hairs. The coat is short and coarse in summer but longer and softer in the winter.[2]

Biology

This ground squirrel lives in open plains and on the fringes of desert areas such as the northern edge of the Gobi Desert in Mongolia. It is a colonial species, digging relatively simple burrows which usually have just two entrance holes. The tunnels seldom exceed two metres in length though they occasionally extend much further. The young are born in the spring in a grass-lined nest at a depth of half a metre. Litter size varies between two and nine. The diet consists of the green parts of plants, seeds and grain.[2]

References

  1. ^ Shar, S. & Lkhagvasuren, D. (2008). Spermophilus dauricus. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 8 January 2009.
  2. ^ a b c A Guide to the Mammals of China

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Daurian Ground Squirrel — Taxobox name = Daurian Ground Squirrel status = LR/lc | status system = IUCN2.3 regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Mammalia ordo = Rodentia familia = Sciuridae genus = Spermophilus species = S. dauricus binomial = Spermophilus dauricus …   Wikipedia

  • Daurian ground squirrel — daūrinis staras statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Citellus dauricus angl. Daurian ground squirrel; Daurian souslik; Daurian suslik vok. daurischer Ziesel rus. даурский суслик; забайкальский суслик… …   Žinduolių pavadinimų žodynas

  • Ground squirrel — Ground squirrels Temporal range: Early Oligocene to Recent California ground squirrel (Spermophilus beecheyi) in the man made rocky shoreline of the Berkeley Marina. The numerous crevices offer safety and shelter …   Wikipedia

  • Mohave ground squirrel — Conservation status Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1) …   Wikipedia

  • California ground squirrel — Conservation status Least Concern …   Wikipedia

  • Columbian ground squirrel — in Alberta, Canada Conservation status …   Wikipedia

  • European ground squirrel — Conservation status …   Wikipedia

  • Mexican ground squirrel — Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1] …   Wikipedia

  • Tropical ground squirrel — Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1] …   Wikipedia

  • Merriam's ground squirrel — Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1] …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”