Specy

Speckled ground squirrel

Mammals

The speckled ground squirrel, also called the spotted souslik (Spermophilus suslicus), is a small rodent of the squirrel family Sciuridae found in eastern Europe, in Belarus, Moldova, Poland, European Russia and Ukraine. It has dark brown fur marked with white spots, a short thin tail, a length of about 25 centimetres and a weight near 280 grams. It lives in colonies on temperate grassland and cultivated ground, each animal in its own burrow, is active by day and hibernates from October to April. It feeds mostly on grasses and cereals and also takes small vertebrates and arthropods. Its range has contracted sharply, and the 2024 IUCN assessment lists it as critically endangered after a very large decline, with habitat loss from agriculture and development the main cause. A relict population in Poland is protected under national law.

Facts
Classification
Diet
Herbivore 1
Population Trend
Decreasing 2
System (Realm)
Terrestrial 1
Threats
Agriculture and Aquaculture 1
Relationship to People
Agricultural or Structural Pest 2
Conservation Status
Critically Endangered 2
Activity Pattern
Diurnal 1
Connections

Child Taxon Of

Sciuridae, Taxa
Source Speckled ground squirrel (Wikipedia)

In Biome

Grassland, Biomes
Source Speckled ground squirrel (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Belarus

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Speckled ground squirrel (Wikipedia)Distribution
Quote, Distribution
It is found in Belarus, Moldova, Poland, European Russia, and Ukraine.
Moldova

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Speckled ground squirrel (Wikipedia)Distribution
Quote, Distribution
It is found in Belarus, Moldova, Poland, European Russia, and Ukraine.
Poland

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Speckled ground squirrel (Wikipedia)Distribution
Quote, Distribution
It is found in Belarus, Moldova, Poland, European Russia, and Ukraine.
Russia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Speckled ground squirrel (Wikipedia)Distribution
Quote, Distribution
It is found in Belarus, Moldova, Poland, European Russia, and Ukraine.
Ukraine

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Speckled ground squirrel (Wikipedia)Distribution
Quote, Distribution
It is found in Belarus, Moldova, Poland, European Russia, and Ukraine.
Sources
1. Animal Diversity Web: Spermophilus suslicus (speckled ground squirrel)
Animal Diversity Web
  • Food Habits
    Speckled ground squirrels are most commonly be found eating sprouts.
  • Behavior
    Speckled ground squirrels are ground dwelling fossorial mammals.
  • Physical Description, activity
    Speckled ground squirrels are a small ground dwelling diurnal rodents,
  • Conservation Status
    Agriculture has diminished much of their native habitat,
View the Source
2. Speckled ground squirrel (Wikipedia)
  • Conservation
    In the 2024 IUCN list update, it was listed as critically endangered, due to a 99% decline in the global population over the past 30 years.
  • Conservation, population trend
    The population is believed to be experiencing continuing decline, with habitat fragmentation and loss occurring.
  • Distribution, pest
    Also, in some areas it is hunted as an agricultural pest.
  • Distribution
    It is found in Belarus, Moldova, Poland, European Russia, and Ukraine.
  • In Group: Rodents And Lagomorphs, Lead
    The speckled ground squirrel or spotted souslik (Spermophilus suslicus) is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae from Eastern Europe.
  • Child Taxon Of: Sciuridae, Lead
    The speckled ground squirrel or spotted souslik (Spermophilus suslicus) is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae from Eastern Europe.
View the Source
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