Alashan ground squirrel
| Alashan ground squirrel | ||||||||||||
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| Spermophilus alashanicus | ||||||||||||
| Büchner , 1888 |
The Alashan ground squirrel ( Spermophilus alashanicus ) is a species of squirrel from the genus of the ground squirrel ( Spermophilus ). It occurs in southern Mongolia and parts of the People's Republic of China .
features
The Alashan ground squirrel reaches a head-to-trunk length of about 19.0 to 21.0 centimeters with a weight of about 190 to 225 grams. The tail is 5.5 to 7.6 centimeters long and is thus - as with all ground squirrels - significantly shorter than the rest of the body. The hind foot becomes 33 to 37 millimeters long, the ear length is 8 to 10 millimeters. The back color is light compared to other species and differs seasonally. The summer coat is light red-brown, the winter coat is lighter and more yellowish. The top of the head is darker than the back. It has a clear, light eye ring and a light brown spot below the eye, which is separated from the ring by a whitish line that runs from the base of the ear to the muzzle. The color of the short tail corresponds to the back, but is rust-red underneath. The legs are comparatively short.
| 1 | · | 0 | · | 2 | · | 3 | = 22 |
| 1 | · | 0 | · | 1 | · | 3 |
The skull has a total length of 45 to 48 millimeters. The type, like all species of the genus in the upper jaw half per one to a incisor tooth formed incisor (incisor) to which a tooth gap ( diastema follows). This is followed by two premolars and three molars . In contrast, the animals have only one premolar in the lower jaw. In total, the animals have a set of 22 teeth. The tympanic cavity is long and narrow, the distance between the eye sockets is usually greater than 9 millimeters.
distribution
The Alashan ground squirrel occurs in southern Mongolia and parts of the People's Republic of China at altitudes of up to 3200 meters. In Mongolia, the species occurs in the Gobi-Altai in the area of the Ich Bogd Uul and the Baga Bogd Uul as well as on the Gurvansaikhan and in the Öshög mountains. In China it is widespread in the provinces of Ningxia , Gansu , Qinghai and Nei Mongol , and according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources also in Shaanxi and Shanxi .
Way of life
The Alashan ground squirrel is a diurnal ground squirrel that occurs in the desert regions of China and the grass steppes on the edge of the Gobi desert as far as the mountain meadows. It lives mainly in China in dry and sandy habitats , which is why it is locally referred to as the "sand rat". In Mongolia the habitats usually consist of dry steppes, grasslands and bushes. It feeds on herbs and other plants, including cultivated plants. The animals live in small, scattered groups in simple burrows, the entrance of which is not surrounded by mounds of earth. Communication takes place via individual high-frequency calls. Like other species of the genus, it hibernates over the winter .
The young are usually born in June. The litter consists of one to nine, usually three to six, young animals.
Systematics
The Alashan ground squirrel is classified as an independent species within the genus of the ground squirrel ( Spermophilus ), which currently consists of 15 species following a revision of the genus. The first scientific description comes from the Russian zoologist Eugen Büchner from 1888, who described the species using individuals from the southern Alashan in China. The Alashan ground squirrel was originally considered a subspecies of the Daurian ground squirrel ( Spermophilus dauricus ), but has been a separate species since the 1970s.
Apart from the nominate form, no subspecies are distinguished within the species .
Status, threat and protection
The Alashan ground squirrel is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) as Least Concern. This is justified by the comparatively large distribution area and the frequent occurrence of the species, but no specific population sizes are known. There are no potential threats to the existence of this species.
supporting documents
- ↑ a b c d e f g Robert S. Hoffmann, Andrew T. Smith: Alashan Ground Squirrel. In: Andrew T. Smith , Yan Xie: A Guide to the Mammals of China. Princeton University Press, Princeton NJ 2008, ISBN 978-0-691-09984-2 , pp. 193-194.
- ^ A b c Richard W. Thorington Jr., John L. Koprowski, Michael A. Steele: Squirrels of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2012; Pp. 300-301. ISBN 978-1-4214-0469-1
- ^ Robert S. Hoffmann, Andrew T. Smith: Spermophilus. In: Andrew T. Smith , Yan Xie: A Guide to the Mammals of China. Princeton University Press, Princeton NJ 2008, ISBN 978-0-691-09984-2 , p. 193.
- ↑ a b c d Spermophilus alashanicus in the Red List of Endangered Species of the IUCN 2014.3. Posted by: S. Shar, D. Lkhagvasuren, AT Smith, 2008. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
- ↑ Kristofer M. Helgen, F. Russell Cole, Lauren E. Helgen, Don E. Wilson: Generic Revision in the holarctic ground squirrels genus Spermophilus. Journal of Mammalogy 90 (2), 2009; Pp. 270-305. doi : 10.1644 / 07-MAMM-A-309.1
- ↑ a b Spermophilus alashanicus In: Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Ed.): Mammal Species of the World. A taxonomic and geographic Reference. 2 volumes. 3. Edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 .
literature
- Richard W. Thorington Jr., John L. Koprowski, Michael A. Steele: Squirrels of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2012; Pp. 300-301. ISBN 978-1-4214-0469-1
- Robert S. Hoffmann, Andrew T. Smith: Alashan Ground Squirrel. In: Andrew T. Smith , Yan Xie: A Guide to the Mammals of China. Princeton University Press, Princeton NJ 2008, ISBN 978-0-691-09984-2 , pp. 193-194.
Web links
- Spermophilus alashanicus inthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014.3. Posted by: S. Shar, D. Lkhagvasuren, AT Smith, 2008. Retrieved May 23, 2015.