#0160 · 🦊 mammals

Russet Ground Squirrel

Spermophilus major

NTnear threatened 🦊 Mammals 📍 in Europe, not in NL

10 photos from iNaturalist (Creative Commons) · credits & licences

1. © Александр · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
2. © Kutushev Radik · CC BY-NC 4.0
3. © Kutushev Radik · CC BY-NC 4.0
4. © Олег Юмашев · CC BY 4.0
5. © A. C. Tatarinov · CC BY-SA 4.0
6. Челябинская обл., Россия, 456893:© yury-redkin · CC BY-NC 4.0
7. Аргаяшский р-н, Челябинская обл., Россия:© Людмила Киселева · CC BY-NC 4.0
8. Красноармейский р-н, Челябинская обл., Россия:© Наталья Киселёва · CC BY-NC 4.0
9. Челябинская обл., Россия, 456893:© yury-redkin · CC BY-NC 4.0
10. Мокшанский р-н, Пензенская обл., Россия:© Irina Savenko · CC BY-NC 4.0

what is it?

The russet ground squirrel ( Spermophilus major ) is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. It is also known as the hibernating large ground squirrel and the large-toothed souslik . It is found in west central Asia where its natural habitat is temperate grassland.

base stats

NL sightings 0iNaturalist, research grade
worldwide 655iNaturalist observations
threat NTnear threatened

Bars compare against all animals on log scales: up to 300,000 Dutch and 600,000 worldwide sightings (the most-seen species), 150 t (blue whale), 30 m and 400 years (Greenland shark).

fun facts

No confirmed wild sightings in the Netherlands on iNaturalist: you'd have to travel for this one.
655 observations worldwide on iNaturalist.
Scientifically named by Peter Simon Pallas in 1779 (247 years ago).