Spermophilus alashanicus, Buchner, 1888
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6840226 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6819022 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/064D0660-FFA6-ED5B-FFDA-F40AFA3AF290 |
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treatment provided by |
Diego |
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scientific name |
Spermophilus alashanicus |
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Alashan Ground Squirrel
Spermophilus alashanicus View in CoL
French: Spermophile de I'Ala Shan / German: Alashan-Ziesel / Spanish: Ardilla terrestre de Alashan
Taxonomy. Spermophilus alashanicus Buchner, 1888 View in CoL ,
“Southern Ala Shan,”
Desert, China.
This species is monotypic.
Distribution. SC Mongolia and NC China (Inner Mongolia = Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Gansu, Qinghai, Shaanxi, and Shanxi).
Descriptive notes. Head-body mean 222.7 mm, tail mean 71-6 mm; weight 192-224 ¢g. The Alashan Ground Squirrel is medium-sized and reddish brown or rust
in summer, with more pale and yellow winter pelage; top of head is darker than cheek and neck. Distinct white stripe extends from nose to ears and forms white eye rings. Venter is buff to tan. Top of short tail 1s darker, and ventral surface of tail has reddish tone.
Habitat. Open grasslands and meadows of steppe, montane, and alpine terrain up to an elevation of ¢.3200 m. The Alashan Ground Squirrel is found in areas with
grasses, shrubs, and forbs, but it also occurs in dry sandy grasslands and deserts in central China.
Food and Feeding. The Alashan Ground Squirrel is herbivorous, feeding on herbs, plants, seeds, and cereal crops.
Breeding. The Alashan Ground Squirrel inhabits burrows. Young are born in June; litters have 1-9 young, typically 3-5.
Activity patterns. The Alashan Ground Squirrel is diurnal and active aboveground in late spring and summer. It hibernates in winter.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Alashan Ground Squirrel appears to be solitary and lives in loose colonies. High-pitched vocalizations are frequently heard at colonies.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Population trend of the Alashan Ground Squirrel is declining due to habitat fragmentation, poisoning, and range degradation. Lack of ecological and natural history knowledge challenges conservation and management efforts.
Bibliography. Harrison et al. (2003), Hayssen (2008a, 2008b), Helgen et al. (2009), Kapustina et al. (2015), Mateju & Kratochvil (2013), Shar, Lkhagvasuren & Smith (2008), Smith & Yan Xie (2008), Thorington et al. (2012).
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.
