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Thief but Cute Fellow #1 -for Mustafa (60)
boreocypriensis
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5080 W: 178 N: 12337]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif) (33659) | Spermophilus xanthoprymnus (Asia Minor Ground Squirrel) [In Turk. Anadolu Yer Sincabı, Gelengi] #1
Dear Friends, I would like to dedicate these photos [an additional shot of the same fellow:) on WS] to our beloved friend, Dr. Mustafa SÖZEN (spalaxtr) for his valuable contributions to the knowledge of the Turkish Mammalian fauna. I wish you all the best my friend and thanks once more for your significant contributions in both TN and TMF!
Hoping that you like these shots!
Cheers,
Bayram
Ps. This cute fellow eat up our canned redish-coloured bean while we was in tent :). When he noticed us, suddenly runned away to his borrow entrance and then he gived these poses to pay for the meal :)
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Ground squirrel name applied to certain terrestrial rodents of the squirrel family. In North America the name refers to members of the genus Spermophilus (=Citellus) and sometimes to the closely related genera Tamias ( chipmunk ), Cynomys ( prairie dog ), and Marmota (marmot and woodchuck ). Spermophilus (=Citellus) species are found in Asia, E Europe, and North America. In the Old World they are sometimes called susliks (or sousliks). Other ground squirrel genera are found in Africa and S Asia. These ground squirrels have rounded heads, short ears and legs, and shorter, less bushy tails than tree squirrels. Their combined head and body length is 4.5 to 13.5 in. (11.4-33 cm) depending on the species; the tail is usually a third to two thirds as long. Most are gregarious, living in extensive underground burrows; they hibernate in colder parts of their range. Members of different species are found in prairie grasslands, arctic tundra, mountain meadows, open forest, desert, and scrub country. In some regions the ground squirrel is called gopher , a name more commonly applied to burrowing rodents of a different family. Primarily vegetarian in their diet, ground squirrels may become agricultural pests, but they destroy insects and mice as well as crops. Their tunnels cause landslides and erosion, but also serve to mix and aerate the soil. Ground squirrels are classified in the phylum Chordata , subphylum Vertebrata, class Mammalia, order Rodentia, family Sciuridae. Though capable of climbing, ground squirrels spend little time in trees.
The genus Spermophilus is the largest genus of ground squirrels and the one that contains the species that are most common and familiar in North America. Members of the genus are found from western Europe to Siberia and Alaska to northern Mexico.
The genus Spermophilus is one of the most diverse and widely distributed representatives of the family Sciuridae, containing 41 species that are distributed through western North America, eastern Europe, and northern and central Asia. In Turkey and Iran, four species are known to occur: S. citellus (In Turkish Thrace), S. xanthoprymnus (in most parts of Anatolia except the Cilician Taurus Range), S. torosensis (in Cilician Middle- Taurus Range) are found in Turkey and S. fulvus occurs in Iran.
It is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family. It is found in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Israel, Syria and Anatolia, Turkey. Here you can see an individual in the entrance of its burrow. It is a diurnal rodent species. The biggest population of the species lives in Turkey. It is generally prefer uncultivated steppe areas and mountain slopes. Because of its day time activity, its an important feed source of day time hunting animals such as raptors, vulpes etc.
The Asia minor ground squirrel is listed as Least Concern (LR/lc), lowest risk. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category, on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
References:
1. Sözen, M. (2007). Spermophilus xanthoprymnus.
2. Yigit, N, Çolak, E. , Sözen, M. & Özkurt, Ş. (2000).. A Study on the Hibernation of Spermophilus xanthoprymnus (Bennet, 1835) (Mammalia: Rodentia) in Turkey. Turk J Zool. , 24: 8793.
3. Özkurt, Ş. Ö., Sözen, M, Yiğit, N., Kandemir, I., Çolak, R. , Gharkheloo, M. M. & Çolak, E. (2007). Taxonomic status of the genus Spermophilus (Mammalia: Rodentia) in Turkey and Iran with description of a new species. Zootaxa 1529: 115.
4. Internet source. Ground Squirrels HighBeam Encyclopedia , 24: 8793. |
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