Spermophilus

Spermophilus is an Old World genus of ground squirrel in the family Sciuridae, its members commonly called Old World ground squirrels, sousliks or spermophiles, with the type species Mus citellus. Once a much larger genus, it has been reduced as many former members were reclassified into other genera such as Ictidomys, Otospermophilus, Urocitellus, Xerospermophilus, Notocitellus and Callospermophilus, and now contains eighteen known species found exclusively in Eurasia, across the Eurasian steppe belt and adjacent regions between Central Europe and Manchuria, in grassland, steppe and semi-desert habitats. They feed mainly on seeds, grasses, roots and tubers, occasionally supplemented by small invertebrates, and are colonial burrowers that spend much of the year in hibernation, aestivating as well in drier climates.