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Spermophilus citellus


Spermophilus citellus
Photo Information
Copyright: Tasos Bounas (tasos) Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 11 W: 0 N: 17] (191)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-06-12
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon EOS 40D, Sigma 170-500mm APO
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/1000 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-06-12 7:49
Viewed: 942
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 10
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Spermophilus citellus
Common name: European ground squirrel or
European souslik

European sousliks are active during the day. They dig and live in lodges of two types. One is the permanent den, in which they spend nights or the entire winter. The other is a temporary, protective hole which serves as a refuge or for a short rest (Parker, 1990). European sousliks hibernate. Before hibernating, they clog up the entrance to the lodge with soil and build a tunnel that extends to near the surface and contains a chamber, but no nesting material. After waking up from hibernation, sousliks either open up the clogged tunnel or dig themselves out from the side tunnel directly to the surface (Parker, 1990). The old males start to hibernate in the first half of August while the adult females continue to remain outside until the first half of September. European souslik are rarely seen outdoors as late as November (Parker, 1990).
European sousliks bring food into the lodge for consumption, and they provide food for the young. However, they never store any supplies for the winter.
The European souslik feeds primarily on vegetation, nuts, seeds, and grains; however, individuals may also consume small invertebrates, small vertebrates, and birds'eggs (Emanoil, 1994; Nowak, 1991).
The European souslik has been declining rapidly in Europe because of the destruction of habitat through intensification of agriculture and large-scale reallotment of land. The species may now be extinct in some area.

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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To strahos: Thankstasos 1 06-12 12:24
To Tubularek: Thankstasos 1 06-12 09:26
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Critiques [Translate]

King of my todays good mood! Thank you for sharing. The interesting thing is that animal's body is bent in the same direction as the leaves and stalks of grass and other plants. !:-)

Hello Tasos,
Funny Spermophilus...
Definitely focused on something.
Your focus is also well done...
TFS
Annick

Geia sou Taso!
very nice photo! great composition, light and sharpness. very nice detail of a difficult-to-approach animal!
Poly kali!
tfs
Ilias

Bonjour Tasos
Félicitation pour cette superbe composition. La nettetée de cette marmotte est réussie. Les couleurs et les détails sont très bons.J'aime bien la pose de l'animal.

Merci et au revoir...JP

  • Great 
  • cako Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 545 W: 0 N: 735] (3213)
  • [2008-06-19 5:28]

Hi Tasos
very nice image
very good sharp and detail
well done.

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