Red and yellow ground squirrel
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A red and yellow ground squirrel ( Spermophilus major ), specimen in the Natural History Museum of the State University of the Far East , Vladivostok |
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| Spermophilus major | ||||||||||||
| ( Pallas , 1779) |
The red and yellow ground squirrel ( Spermophilus major ) is a species of squirrel from the genus of the ground squirrel ( Spermophilus ). It occurs in the steppe areas between the Volga and the Irtysh in Russia as far as northern Kazakhstan , and it was also settled in the northern Caucasus .
features
The red and yellow ground squirrel reaches a head-trunk length of about 25.3 to 32.0 centimeters, making it the largest species of the genus. The tail is about 7.3 to 10.5 centimeters long and, like all ground squirrels, is significantly shorter than the rest of the body. The back color is dark ocher-brown and covered with numerous small white spots. the sides of the body are lighter colored ocher to rusty red, the belly is whitish to yellow-ocher colored. The top of the head and the muzzle are often gray. Below the eyes it has a yellow to rust-red spot on both sides. The tail is ocher-brown on top and reddish on the underside.
| 1 | · | 0 | · | 2 | · | 3 | = 22 |
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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.
distribution
The red and yellow ground squirrel occurs in the steppe areas between the Volga and the Irtysh in Russia as far as northern Kazakhstan , and it was also settled in the northern Caucasus . Originally, the range stretched between the Don and the Volga, but the range increases to the south and west. The animals occur at heights of up to 600 meters.
Way of life
The red and yellow ground squirrel is a diurnal ground squirrel. It lives mainly in grassland areas, grass steppes and also in agriculturally used grain areas as well as in forest steppes in the lowlands. It feeds primarily on parts of plants, especially leaves and seeds of grasses and herbs, as well as buds, roots and grain. They also rarely eat bird eggs and chicks as well as insects. The animals live territorially and form a fixed ranking system, about 25% of the animals' encounters are aggressive . The polygynous males compete with each other and defend their territory against other males, the monogamous females create their burrows and territories within the territories of the males. Young females stay close to their mothers, young males spread further. The construction is usually simple with an entrance and a nest chamber, it has a length and depth of one to two meters. In addition, shallow escape dwellings are being built into which the animals can move in case of danger. The nests of the females are a bit more complex and often have a second entrance.
Like other ground squirrels , the animals spend the winter in a long hibernation , which begins in mid-June and in August for young animals and females as well. It lasts 6.5 to 8.5 months, the animals wake up around March of the following year. The breeding season begins in spring just after wintering. The seven to eight young are born in the underground nest and leave it at the end of spring.
The main predators of the animals are birds of prey, to whose presence the animals respond with short, high-pitched alarm calls and flight. The main cause of death is death from freezing to death during hibernation from ground frost and delayed warming in spring.
Systematics
The red and yellow 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 naturalist Peter Simon Pallas from 1779. He described the species using individuals from Samara Oblast , formerly Kuibyshev Oblast.
Apart from the nominate form, no further subspecies are distinguished within the species .
Status, threat and protection
The red and yellow ground squirrel is classified as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). This is justified by the large number and the large distribution area of the animals. Although there are regional reductions in populations and the disappearance of colonies, the overall population is not endangered. At the same time, the distribution area increases. The stocks are subject to periodic fluctuations with mass increases and then subsequent regulations of the stock, they change accordingly every year.
The animals are hunted within the area for meat and fur, but this is not classified as endangering the population. In some areas, they are considered to be grain pests and are trapped.
supporting documents
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i Richard W. Thorington Jr., John L. Koprowski, Michael A. Steele: Squirrels of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2012; Pp. 306-307. 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 e f Spermophilus major in the Red List of Endangered Species of the IUCN 2015.1. Posted by: K. Tsytsulina, N. Formozov, B. Sheftel, 2008. Retrieved June 30, 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 major 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. 306-307. ISBN 978-1-4214-0469-1
Web links
- Spermophilus major inthe IUCN Red List of Endangered Species 2015.1. Posted by: K. Tsytsulina, N. Formozov, B. Sheftel, 2008. Retrieved June 30, 2015.