Ground squirrel
| Ground squirrel | ||||||||||||
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Ground squirrels (right column in the middle). Blackboard rodents I from Meyers Konversationslexikon. |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name of the genus | ||||||||||||
| Spermophilopsis | ||||||||||||
| Blasius , 1884 | ||||||||||||
| Scientific name of the species | ||||||||||||
| Spermophilopsis leptodactylus | ||||||||||||
| ( Lichtenstein , 1823) |
The ground squirrel ( Spermophilopsis leptodactylus ) is a rodent similar to a ground squirrel from Central Asia. Despite the name, it belongs to the bristle squirrel tribe , of which it is the only non-African representative. The range includes northern Iran and Afghanistan as well as parts of Kazakhstan , Uzbekistan , Turkmenistan and Tajikistan .
The bristly, prickly summer fur identifies ground squirrels as members of the bristle squirrel. In winter they switch to a silky-soft coat, which offers better protection from the cold. Their fur is sandy yellow, only the underside of the tip of the tail is black. The paws are densely hairy and have strong claws up to 1 cm long. The head body length is 25 cm, plus 8 cm tail.
Ground squirrels inhabit arid deserts . Here, small family groups dig common burrows that they leave during the day to search for food. They feed on parts of plants and insects. Although there are very cold winters in the range, the ground squirrel does not hibernate . However, it remains in its den in very hot and very cold hours of the day.
literature
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. 2 volumes. 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD et al. 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 .
Web link
- Spermophilopsis leptodactylus inthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013.1. Retrieved September 2, 2013.