Spermophilus xanthoprymnus
| Kingdom |
Phylum |
Class |
Order |
Family |
| ANIMALIA |
CHORDATA |
MAMMALIA |
RODENTIA |
SCIURIDAE |
| Scientific Name: |
Spermophilus xanthoprymnus |
| Species Authority: |
(Bennett, 1835) |
Common Name/s:
| English |
– |
Asia Minor Ground Squirrel |
|
Assessment Information
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| Red List Category & Criteria: |
Near Threatened
ver 3.1
|
| Year Published: |
2008 |
| Assessor/s: |
Kryštufek, B., Yigit, N. & Hutterer, R. |
| Reviewer/s: |
Amori, G. (Small Nonvolant Mammal Red List Authority) & Temple, H. (Global Mammal Assessment Team) |
| Contributor/s: |
|
Justification:
S. xanthoprymnus is Near Threatened due to population declines estimated at 20-25% over the last ten years as a result of habitat conversion for agriculture, especially in central Anatolia. Almost qualifies as Vulnerable under criterion A2c.
|
| History: |
| 1996 |
– |
Lower Risk/least concern
(Baillie and Groombridge 1996)
|
|
Geographic Range
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| Range Description: |
Anatolian ground squirrels Spermophilus xanthoprymnus are distributed in Anatolian Turkey, extending marginally into Armenia and NW Iran. |
| Countries: |
Native: Armenia (Armenia); Iran, Islamic Republic of; Turkey |
| Range Map: |
Click here to open the map viewer and explore range. |
Population
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| Population: |
Population size has not been quantified. The population may be declining at a rate of approximately 20-25% over the last ten years as a result of habitat conversion for agriculture.
|
| Population Trend: |
Decreasing
|
Habitat and Ecology
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| Habitat and Ecology: |
Open steppe habitat with short vegetation. Elevational range is approximately 800 to 2,700 m. In Turkey, the species lives in natural steppe, but sometimes occurs on rocky mountain slopes, and at the edge of grain fields (Demirsoy et al. 2006). Hibernation starts at the end of August and is terminated in mid-February; hibernation may last 21 to 100 days (Demirsoy et al. 2006). Mating takes place after emergence in February, with births occurring in April-July (litter size 1-6) (Demirsoy et al. 2006). One litter is produced each year and sexual maturity is attained after the first hibernation period (Demirsoy et al. 2006).
|
| Systems: |
Terrestrial |
| Major Threat(s): |
Large scale agricultural expansion is the main threat. The species is considered a pest in Turkey, where it is found in agricultural areas (N. Yigit pers. comm. 2007).
|
Conservation Actions
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| Conservation Actions: |
Found in protected areas.
|
