Daurian ground squirrel

Daurian ground squirrel
Systematics
Subordination :	Squirrel relatives (Sciuromorpha)
Family :	Squirrel (Sciuridae)
Subfamily :	Ground Squirrel (Xerinae)
Tribe :	Real ground squirrels (Marmotini)
Genre :	Ground Squirrel ( Spermophilus )
Type :	Daurian ground squirrel
Scientific name
	Spermophilus dauricus
	Brandt , 1843

The Daurian ground squirrel ( Spermophilus dauricus ) is a species of squirrel from the genus of the ground squirrel ( Spermophilus ). It occurs in southern Russia , Mongolia and the north of the People's Republic of China .

features

The Daurian ground squirrel reaches a head-to-trunk length of about 16.5 to 26.8 centimeters with a weight of about 150 to 265 grams. The tail becomes 4.0 to 7.5 centimeters long and is therefore, as with all ground squirrels, significantly shorter than the rest of the body. The hind foot becomes 30 to 39 millimeters long, the ear length is 5 to 10 millimeters. The species is relatively small compared to other ground squirrels and has a very short tail, which is only about a fifth to a third of the body size. The back color is yellowish brown to reddish gray without light spots on the back. The tail is colored light yellow with a distinct, black-brown band in front of the tail end and a light tail tip. There is a light eye ring around the eyes that extends to the ear. The front feet are bald on top, the back feet are hairy. The winter fur of the animals is significantly longer and softer than the summer fur.

1	·	0	·	2	·	3	= 22
1	·	0	·	1	·	3	= 22

Tooth formula of the ground squirrel

The skull has a total length of 42 to 50 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 wider in its longitudinal axis than in its transverse axis. The nasal bones are very narrow at the front end and the palatine bone has no cavity behind the incisors.

distribution

The Daurian ground squirrel occurs in southern Russia , Mongolia and in the northern part of the People's Republic of China . In China, the species is common in Hebei , Beijing , Tianjin , Henan , Shandong Jilin , Heilongjiang , Liaoning , Nei Mongol, and Shanxi provinces .

Way of life

The Daurian ground squirrel is a diurnal ground squirrel. It lives mainly in dry steppes and shrubbery landscapes and is considered to be a typical species of the northern edges of the Gobi in the border area of Mongolia and Siberia. The animals feed on various plant materials and seeds, they also use agricultural grain fields as a source of food. They are social and live in closely spaced colonies of simple burrows that usually have one or two entrances. The tunnels are usually a maximum of two meters long, but in extreme cases they can also reach six to eight meters in length. The nest is usually at a depth of about 0.5 to a maximum of one meter, winter nests can be up to two meters deep.

The animals hibernate during the winter , whereby the animals can lower their body temperature to as much as 4.8 ° C. The breeding season begins after waking up in May, the females give birth to a litter of two to nine young after a gestation period of about 30 days. The animals become sexually mature at around two years of age.

Systematics

The Daurian ground squirrel is classified as an independent species within the genus of ground squirrel ( Spermophilus ), which, according to the current status, consists of 15 species following a revision of the genus. The first scientific description comes from Johann Friedrich von Brandt from 1843, who was then working in Russia. He described the species on the basis of individuals from the region around Lake Torei-Nor in the Transbeikal region in Russia. The Alashan ground squirrel ( Spermophilus alashanicus ) was partially integrated into this species, according to other taxonomies the Daurian ground squirrel was a subspecies of the European ground squirrel ( Spermophilus citellus ). On the basis of a molecular biological investigation, a sister species relationship to the Asian ground squirrel ( Spermophilus xanthoprymnus ) is assumed.

Apart from the nominate form, no subspecies are usually distinguished within the species . Smith & Yan Xie 2009 differentiate between two subspecies for the Chinese part of the distribution area: S. d. mongolicus and S. d. ramosus , plus the nominate form Sd dauricus in Russia.

Status, threat and protection

The Daurian ground squirrel is classified as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). This is justified by the very large distribution area and the frequent occurrence of the species, but concrete population sizes are not known. There are no potential threats to the existence of this species.

supporting documents

↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Robert S. Hoffmann, Andrew T. Smith: Daurian 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 , p. 194.

↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Richard W. Thorington Jr., John L. Koprowski, Michael A. Steele: Squirrels of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2012; Pp. 303-304. 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 Spermophilus dauricus in the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species 2015.1. Posted by: S. Shar, D. Lkhagvasuren, 2008. Retrieved June 18, 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 ^c ^d Spermophilus dauricus 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. 303-304. ISBN 978-1-4214-0469-1
Robert S. Hoffmann, Andrew T. Smith: Daurian 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 , p. 194.

Web links

Spermophilus dauricus inthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015.1. Posted by: S. Shar, D. Lkhagvasuren, 2008. Retrieved June 18, 2015.

[Smith_&_Yan_Xie_2009-1] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Robert S. Hoffmann, Andrew T. Smith: Daurian 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 , p. 194.

[Thorington_et_al._2012-2] Richard W. Thorington Jr., John L. Koprowski, Michael A. Steele: Squirrels of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2012; Pp. 303-304. ISBN 978-1-4214-0469-1

[Smith_&_Yan_Xie_2009_Spermophilus-3] 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.