Phodopus roborovskii

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	RODENTIA	CRICETIDAE

Scientific Name:

Phodopus roborovskii

Species Authority:

(Satunin, 1903)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Desert Hamster, Roborowski’s Hamster

Synonym/s:

Phodopus bedfordiae (Thomas, 1908)

Phodopus praedilectus Mori, 1930

Phodopus przewalskii Vorontsov & Kriukova, 1969

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s

Shar, S. & Lkhagvasuren, D.

Evaluator/s:

Amori, G. (Small Nonvolant Mammal Red List Authority) & Tsytsulina, K. (Global Mammal Assessment Team)

Justification:
This species has a large population size and a wide distribution. No decline in population size has been detected, and there are no known widespread major threats.

History:

1996

–

Lower Risk/least concern

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Distributed in sand deserts and semi-deserts in Mongolia (Govi Altai Mountain Range, Great Lakes Depression, Valley of the Lakes, Northern Govi, Eastern Govi, Dzungarian Govi Desert, Trans Altai Govi Desert and Alashani Govi Desert; Sokolov and Orlov, 1980) and adjacent territories of Kazakhstan, Russia (Tuva) and N China.
Countries:	Native: China; Kazakhstan; Mongolia; Russian Federation
Range Map:	(click map to view full version)

Population [top]

Population:	No population data are available, but it is believed to be common in the Gobi Desert. Rare in Kazakhstan and Russia.
Population Trend:	Stable

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Occurs in sandy deserts and grasslands; avoids areas with clay soil, those overgrown with shrubby vegetation, and barkhan sands. Burrows with a single opening (4 cm diameter) are dug between sand dunes or at their edge. Burrows extend 90 cm deep and contain a single nest and 2-3 food caches. Eats seeds (often filling their cheek pouches); also known to consume green vegetation and insects. Nocturnal; do not hibernate. Reproduce from March-September (or even later). Up to four litters ranging from 3-9 young are born following a 20-day gestation. Young of the year may become reproductively active.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

Occurs in sandy deserts and grasslands; avoids areas with clay soil, those overgrown with shrubby vegetation, and barkhan sands. Burrows with a single opening (4 cm diameter) are dug between sand dunes or at their edge. Burrows extend 90 cm deep and contain a single nest and 2-3 food caches. Eats seeds (often filling their cheek pouches); also known to consume green vegetation and insects. Nocturnal; do not hibernate. Reproduce from March-September (or even later). Up to four litters ranging from 3-9 young are born following a 20-day gestation. Young of the year may become reproductively active.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Habitat degradation may be resulting through grazing by increasing numbers of livestock. Drying of water sources and droughts also threaten this species, although it remains unclear if these represent natural environmental changes or are driven by anthropogenic activity. These are not considered major threats at present.

Major Threat(s):

Habitat degradation may be resulting through grazing by increasing numbers of livestock. Drying of water sources and droughts also threaten this species, although it remains unclear if these represent natural environmental changes or are driven by anthropogenic activity. These are not considered major threats at present.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Occurs within protected areas (approximately 18% of the species’ range in Mongolia).

Conservation Actions:

Occurs within protected areas (approximately 18% of the species’ range in Mongolia).

Citation:	Shar, S. & Lkhagvasuren, D. 2008. Phodopus roborovskii. In: IUCN 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 09 February 2010.
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