Relict ground squirrel

The relict ground squirrel, Spermophilus relictus, is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae, the squirrels, and the genus Spermophilus. Its authority is Kashkarov, 1923. It is found in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan in Central Asia. Its name has a tangled history: it is thought to be synonymous with Spermophilus ralli, a name that was formerly used for the Tian Shan ground squirrel, Spermophilus nilkaensis, so older sources may apply the names differently. The Global Biodiversity Information Facility record of the IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern. The sources consulted say nothing about its diet, habitat or lifespan, so those facts are left open.