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European ground squirrel

Mammals

The European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) is a small, round-bodied ground squirrel native to southeast and central Europe, with a northwestern section of its range in the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Serbia and Romania and a southeastern section reaching Bulgaria, northern Greece, Moldova and Ukraine. It lives in colonies in short-grass steppe, pastures and human-modified grassland such as sports fields, lawns and golf courses, where each animal keeps its own burrow in light, well-drained soil. Males weigh about 125 to 380 grams and females 131 to 353 grams. It is strictly diurnal and spends about three quarters of its time above ground foraging for roots, shoots, leaves, flowers and seeds, with occasional insects, eggs and small animals, and it stores food in its burrow. It hibernates for around six months of the year, breeds once annually and bears litters of two to nine young. Population declines of over 30 percent were estimated between 1998 and 2008, mainly from habitat degradation under agricultural development, and the species has been reintroduced to Poland.

Facts
Classification
Diet
Omnivore 1
Population Trend
Decreasing 1
System (Realm)
Terrestrial 1
Threats
Agriculture and Aquaculture 1
Relationship to People
Agricultural or Structural Pest 1
Relationship to People
Eaten or Drunk by People 1
Living or Extinct
Yes 1
Conservation Status
Endangered 2
Body Size Band
Small 1
Activity Pattern
Diurnal 1
Lifespan
6.7 1
Comparison
CITES Appendix
Not Listed 1
Connections

Child Taxon Of

Spermophilus, Taxa
Source Spermophilus citellus (Animal Diversity Web)

In Biome

Steppe, Biomes
Source Spermophilus citellus (Animal Diversity Web)
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Austria

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Spermophilus citellus (Animal Diversity Web)Geographic Range, Austria
Quote, Geographic Range, Austria
The northwestern portion of their range includes the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Serbia, and Romania
Bulgaria

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Spermophilus citellus (Animal Diversity Web)Geographic Range, Bulgaria
Quote, Geographic Range, Bulgaria
extend into eastern Serbia, Macedonia, northern Greece, Bulgaria, Turkish Thrace, Moldova, and Ukraine.
Czechia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Spermophilus citellus (Animal Diversity Web)Geographic Range
Quote, Geographic Range
The northwestern portion of their range includes the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Serbia, and Romania
Greece

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Spermophilus citellus (Animal Diversity Web)Geographic Range, Greece
Quote, Geographic Range, Greece
extend into eastern Serbia, Macedonia, northern Greece, Bulgaria, Turkish Thrace, Moldova, and Ukraine.
Hungary

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Spermophilus citellus (Animal Diversity Web)Geographic Range, Hungary
Quote, Geographic Range, Hungary
The northwestern portion of their range includes the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Serbia, and Romania
Moldova

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Spermophilus citellus (Animal Diversity Web)Geographic Range, Moldova
Quote, Geographic Range, Moldova
extend into eastern Serbia, Macedonia, northern Greece, Bulgaria, Turkish Thrace, Moldova, and Ukraine.
Romania

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Spermophilus citellus (Animal Diversity Web)Geographic Range, Romania
Quote, Geographic Range, Romania
The northwestern portion of their range includes the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Serbia, and Romania
Serbia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Spermophilus citellus (Animal Diversity Web)Geographic Range, Serbia
Quote, Geographic Range, Serbia
The northwestern portion of their range includes the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Serbia, and Romania
Slovakia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Spermophilus citellus (Animal Diversity Web)Geographic Range, Slovakia
Quote, Geographic Range, Slovakia
The northwestern portion of their range includes the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Serbia, and Romania
Ukraine

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Spermophilus citellus (Animal Diversity Web)Geographic Range, Ukraine
Quote, Geographic Range, Ukraine
extend into eastern Serbia, Macedonia, northern Greece, Bulgaria, Turkish Thrace, Moldova, and Ukraine.
Sources
1. Spermophilus citellus (Animal Diversity Web)
  • Conservation Status
    From 1998 to 2008, population declines of over 30% were estimated in the natural range for the species.
  • Conservation Status, CITES
    CITES No special status
  • Food Habits
    European ground squirrels commonly feed on roots, shoots, leaves, and flowers. This species has also been known to consume common voles
  • Habitat, living species
    European ground squirrels generally live in areas with light, well-drained soil, where they make burrows.
  • Conservation Status, threats
    The main threat to this species is the degradation of their natural habitats due to agricultural development.
  • Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
    European ground squirrels could be considered a pest to humans in urban and suburban environments.
  • Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
    Some Gypsy communities in eastern Europe consume European ground squirrels as a part of traditional or ceremonial meals.
  • Physical Description
    Males have body masses of 125 to 380 g, while females range from 131 to 353 g.
  • Behavior
    European ground squirrels are strictly diurnal mammals.
  • Lifespan/Longevity, captivity
    European ground squirrels have a maximum lifespan of approximately 6.7 years in captivity.
  • Geographic Range, Austria
    The northwestern portion of their range includes the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Serbia, and Romania
  • Geographic Range, Hungary
    The northwestern portion of their range includes the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Serbia, and Romania
  • Geographic Range, Slovakia
    The northwestern portion of their range includes the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Serbia, and Romania
  • Geographic Range, Serbia
    The northwestern portion of their range includes the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Serbia, and Romania
  • Geographic Range, Romania
    The northwestern portion of their range includes the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Serbia, and Romania
  • Geographic Range, Bulgaria
    extend into eastern Serbia, Macedonia, northern Greece, Bulgaria, Turkish Thrace, Moldova, and Ukraine.
  • Geographic Range, Greece
    extend into eastern Serbia, Macedonia, northern Greece, Bulgaria, Turkish Thrace, Moldova, and Ukraine.
  • Geographic Range, Moldova
    extend into eastern Serbia, Macedonia, northern Greece, Bulgaria, Turkish Thrace, Moldova, and Ukraine.
  • Geographic Range, Ukraine
    extend into eastern Serbia, Macedonia, northern Greece, Bulgaria, Turkish Thrace, Moldova, and Ukraine.
  • In Group: Rodents And Lagomorphs, Scientific Classification
    Order Rodentia rodents Family Sciuridae squirrels Genus Spermophilus ground squirrels and rock squirrels
  • In Biome: Steppe, Habitat
    During their short active season, they are most commonly found in short-grass steppe environments.
  • Child Taxon Of: Spermophilus, Scientific Classification, genus
    Genus Spermophilus ground squirrels and rock squirrels Species Spermophilus citellus European ground squirrel
View the Source
2. European ground squirrel (Wikipedia)
Conservation Status
Quote, Conservation Status
The European ground squirrel is listed as being endangered by the IUCN in its Red List of Threatened Species.
View the Source
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