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European Souslik


European Souslik
Photo Information
Copyright: Bayram Gocmen (boreocypriensis) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5104 W: 178 N: 12503] (34135)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-07-17
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Nikon D-5000, Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 EX DG APO HSM, @ ISO 400
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/800 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Mammals from the Middle East & Europe [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-07-20 1:14
Viewed: 549
Points: 74
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Spermophilus citellus (European Ground Squirrel, European Souslik) [in Turk. Trakya Gelengisi, Trakya Yer Sincabı

Today another shot from Turkish Thrace (European Turkey) which I encountered with him near Ürünlü (Kırklareli) while he was digging a nest tunnel.. Tomorrow I will be away from TN again since I will go to Black Sea region approx. 20 days.

TFL and Have a nice time!
Cheers,

©Bayram GÖÇMEN, Ege University, Faculty of Science. All Rights Reserved.

*****************************

The European ground squirrel belongs to a genus commonly referred to as the sousliks, with representatives spread throughout the northern hemisphere from California to China. Ground squirrels tend to have stout, low-slung bodies, resting upon short legs, and a well-furred tail measuring about a third the length of the body. The European ground squirrel generally has short yellowish fur but the back is tinged distinctly grey with dense cream spots. All species within the genus have sizeable internal cheek pouches for carrying food.

The European ground squirrel is endemic to central and eastern Europe, from the Czech Republic in the northwest to European Turkey in the southeast. Historically, its western boundary extended into southeast Germany. An inhabitant of open landscape without dense vegetation cover, the European ground squirrel is normally found in short-grass habitats on light, well-drained soils. This includes a range of natural and artificial habitats such as steppe grassland, pasture, vineyards, sports fields and golf courses.

Although the European ground squirrel lives in burrows in loosely structured populations, it is not an exceptionally social or territorial species. In common with all ground-dwelling squirrels, it is mostly active during the hours of sunlight, devoting most of its attention to foraging for food. Roots, seeds, shoots and flowers comprise the bulk of this species' diet, but occasionally small invertebrates will also be taken. However, as an important part of the food chain itself, it is commonly preyed upon by larger predators such as polecats and birds of prey. During the summer months, there is a rise in foraging activity as each ground squirrel attempts to accumulate as much stored fat as possible before the onset of hibernation. Unlike many other ground squirrels, it does not stock-pile food but must rely on doubling its body mass to see it through the long winter. Entering hibernation near the beginning of September, European ground squirrels do not appear from the underground burrows again until late March. Soon after emerging there is a scramble amongst the males to gain access to the reproductively active females. This period of breeding lasts three to four weeks, with each female mating with only one male. Following 25 days of development in the womb, the females give birth to a litter of 4 to 11 young which receive milk for around 30 days before being weaned. The young reach maturity after the following hibernation, but not all will breed in their first year.

References:
1. Budak, A., Göçmen, B., Mermer, A. & Kaya, U (2002). Omurgalılar Sistematiği (Vertebrate Systematics). Ege Üniversitesi Fen Fakültesi Kitaplar Serisi, No. 181, Ege Üniversitesi Basimevi, Bornova-Izmir, 268 pp. (ISBN 975-483-549-7) [In Turkish].
2. Wikipedia: Click here for more info on the species.
3. ARKive.
siggi, valy67, cypturk, nkasot, maurydv, caspian, goatman04, haraprasan, nasokoun, KOMSIS, zulfu, SMYRNA, bahadir, xTauruSx, goldyrs, jaycee, Miss_Piggy, montivipera, cirano, albert, CeltickRanger, Gert-Paassen, MMM, cataclysta, sranjan, anemone has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1382 W: 56 N: 4768] (16394)
  • [2009-07-20 1:43]

Hello MF Bayram,
Very nice capture.I liked sharpness,harmonious colors,details and composition a lot.Excellent work!
Thanks for posting.Best regards Siggi

Hello Bayram !
This last shot before your abvsence is outstanding ! It shows an animal whose name I had heard already, but I had never seen it, so I must thank you to make me discover it ! I really like the pose of the Souslik, the sharpness and details, the composition. It'sa great picture, I love it. I also wish you all the best for your trip to the Black Sea region. We will miss you, my friend, during those 20 days !
Valérie.

Hi Bayram,

Awesome capture of this this little Squirrel. Very nice to see the light in teh eye of the animal. Sign of a very nice picture according to me. Very well done.

TFS,
Kedar

  • Great 
  • joska Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 414 W: 0 N: 1030] (5550)
  • [2009-07-20 2:36]

Excellent photo of this Citellus with great black eyes!

  • Great 
  • zetu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 655 W: 15 N: 1629] (6333)
  • [2009-07-20 3:02]

Hello Bayram
A fine capture of this cute animal. Well done
Regards
Razvan

Dayi cok tatli bir sincep. burdakilerden cok farkli.
Eline saglik. selamlar ve iyi gezmeler.
Merih

Bayram hocam süper. Türkiye memeli bilgisi için de çok güzel bir kayıt ve harika bir kare. Emeğinize sağlık. Kardenizde de iyi tatiller diliyorum size.
Saygılar ve selamlar.
Nazım

Hello MF Bayram,
a fantastic picture of the European Ground Squirrel taken in a lovely posture with superb sharpness, very well composed.
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio

Merhaba Bayram hocam,

Görülmesi oldukça zor ancak görüntülenmesi daha da zor bu güzel türü başarılı bir şekilde fotoğraflamışsınız üstadım. Ülkemizde yaşayan bu nadir türümüz, aynı zamanda çok da sevimli. Elinize ve emeğinize sağlık. Selam ve saygılarımla.

Mehmet

Dalam Bayram,

A great shot with fine details, coloration & composition. TFS & Good luck on field trip.

Bring back more of your great shots.

Best regards

Umar

Selam Sevgili Dostum Bayram,
A nice capture of this cute looking ground squirrel. Very well composed with sharp details. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Hi,
Very cute little squirrel in good lighting, well captured. tfs.
nagraj.v

Hello Bayram
very beautiful presentation, we do not see him often photographed, very well litted up with splendid details and colours
I wish you good travel MF
TFS
Nasos

Bayram bey selamlar,
Kuş yumurtalarını çalan ve yavruları götüren kesin bu ufaklıktır ...
Detayları oldukça net, renkleri başarılı bir kompozisyon.
Emeğinize sağlık,
Seyfi

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1066 W: 0 N: 162] (870)
  • [2009-07-20 10:48]

Merhaba Hocam, harika bir pozda yakalamışssınız bu Avrupalı güzeli. Elinize sağlık. Hayırlı yolculuklar.
Mehmet

Kanka çok tatlı ve çok şirin:) Pozuna bayıldım. Gözleri çok masumane bakıyor. Eline sağlık. İyi gezmeler sana.
Gökhan.

Bayram Hocam kolleksiyondaki tür sayısı doruğa ulaştı sanırım. Trakya memelilerine de sıra gelmiş:) Elinize saklık.
Bahadır

Bayram hocam bu cimcimeyi harika bir pozda yakalamışsınız. Etrafı kolaçan ediyor. Sanırım sizi farketmiş:)
Elinize sağlık. İyi yolculuklar ve iyi tatiller hocam.
Deniz

A splendid shot, from my splendid Big Bro!
I love this cute creature!
Another first for me, brother!
you teach us so many new things!
Bravo!
Goldy

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2921 W: 34 N: 8658] (32266)
  • [2009-07-20 12:09]

Hi Bayram. Something a little different from you today. You have taken this European ground squirrel with good detai land natural colours. i like the pose with its nose in the air. Well done TFS.
Nick..

Have a good and safe trip.

Hi Brother...
Very pretty souslik..Excellent picture with great pose and sharpness perfect...Sun shine on this capture give your photo more natural live..Notes very educational..I am going to miss you in here.
Have a nice trip and safe journey
Take care..
Leyla

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2009-07-20 16:40]

Hi LBB,

I have ground squirrels living in my backyard and they look exactly like this one. They rarely make an appearance but I know they are still there. They are pests but they certainly are cute. A great shot of this one surrounded by the grass. Have a great trip - take lots of pictures.

Jane

Hallo Bayram
This is such a cutie pie, and the pose in which you have captured this little one makes it looks like it is a mischievous little rascal. The huge almond shaped eye is stands out well and is a beautiful feature of this squirrel. I love the greenery that surrounds the squirrel, as it reminds me of spring that is on its way, and the cold winter is disappearing slowly. A lovely image without any pretence image. Thanks for sharing this sweet little fellow. Best regards.
Anna

Merhaba Hocam,
Sizden epey sincap karesi gördük, sincaplarla aranız iyi galiba :) Bu kare de çok güzel, elinize sağlık.
Ağustosun ikinci haftası geleceğim bir aksilik olmazsa.
Saygılarımla, Naşit

Bayram merhaba,
Güzel bir sincap fotoprafı olmuş,pozu da oldukça sevimli.Karadenizde verimli gezintiler diliyorum.
Dûrzan

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1339 W: 0 N: 2585] (9117)
  • [2009-07-21 3:52]

Hi MF Bayram,
such a lively and lovely presentation of this squirrel.
Very nice taken with light so abundance.
sharp and clear.
Very exciting shot.

regards,
Foozi

Hello Bayram
Very nice presentation of this ground squirrel
Have a nice time at the Black Sea region
Cheers
Albert

Ciao Bayram, great capture of lovely creature in nice pose, excellent sharpness, splendid light and colors, very well done my friend, ciao Silvio

hello Bayram

beautiful photography of the European Ground Squirrel,
with fine POV, DOF and framing, beautiful luminosity,
excellent sharpness and details, the catch-light
render the photo more beautiful, TFS

Asbed

Hi little bro Bayram,

your back from your break with an nice picture from this ground squirrel.

Good pov with fine natural colours.
I am sorry that I not longer belongs to your favorite photograph.
I am not so busy with TN as you and give only critique when I have the time but when I get critique I give it always back. I am also not agree with the point system but It are now only so.

greetz Gert

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 922 W: 0 N: 1986] (8917)
  • [2009-07-27 8:33]

Hi Bayram
Nice capture.good POV and excellent pose from your subject.Also sharp image with nice fur detail.
TFS Michel

A superb image of this animal. Good colours and sharpness.
Best wishes,
Achim

Hi Bayram
Nice photo of cute Souslik. Good sharp image taken in natural surrounding. Good exposure in a strong sun and as always good, informative note
TFS
Krzysztof

De estas ya no quedan por aquí Bayram, alguna similar en las zonas de montaña, pero lo demás casi todo está hecho un asco; el mundo capialista y sus consecuencias... lo peor es que aún no se da cuenta la gente de lo que está pasando con la naturaleza !

Un abrazo: Josep Ignasi.

Hello Bayram,
How are you? I had thought that go have left the TN desk for sometime; but happy to see you back. I just adore these creatures. You were lucky to catch the image of this shy ground squirrel. TFS
Regards-Subhash

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3825 W: 190 N: 11396] (35111)
  • [2009-08-01 7:37]

Hello Dostum!
A superb capture of the European Ground Squirrel after it emerged from its burrow.
Technically superb and nicely composed among the blades of grass.
Thanks Bayram and I wish you a great weekend,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • Nilson Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 442 W: 0 N: 427] (3110)
  • [2009-08-01 16:42]

Hello Bayram
Nice shot with good details, coors, lighting and sharpness. The compposition is amazing. This animal is very interesting and cute.
Well done
Nilson

Çok şirin:) harika yakalamışsınız Bayram hocam.
Elinize ve emeğinize sağlık.
Saygılarımla,
Özgür

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