Spermophilopsis leptodactylus (Lichtenstein 1823)

[Arctomys] leptodactylus Lichtenstein 1823, Naturh. Abh. Eversmann's Reise: 119.

Type Locality: "Vicinity of Kara Ata, 140 km northwest of the Old Town of Bukhara" [Uzbekistan] (Ognev, 1966:394).

Vernacular Names: Long-clawed Ground Squirrel.

Subspecies::

Subspecies Spermophilopsis leptodactylus subsp. leptodactylus Lichtenstein 1823

Subspecies Spermophilopsis leptodactylus subsp. bactrianus Scully 1888

Subspecies Spermophilopsis leptodactylus subsp. heptopotamicus Heptner and Ismagilov 1952

Distribution: SE Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, W Tajikistan, NE Iran, NW Afghanistan.

Conservation: IUCN – Lower Risk (lc).

Discussion: Related to African xerine squirrels ( Atlantoxerus and Xerus) (Nadler and Hoffmann, 1974; Nadler et al., 1969).