Eolagurus luteus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	RODENTIA	CRICETIDAE

Scientific Name:

Eolagurus luteus

Species Authority

(Eversmann, 1840)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Yellow Steppe Lemming

Synonym/s:

Eolagurus praeluteus

Eolagurus volgensis

Eolaurus gromovi

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s

Batsaikhan, N., Avermid, D. & Tinnin, D.

Evaluator/s:

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

Justification:
A widespread species with no known major threats. Least Concern.

History:

1996

–

Lower Risk/conservation dependent (Baillie and Groombridge 1996)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Distributed in China, Kazakhstan, Russia and Mongolia. Main part of the range is in China, N Xinjiang (Smith and Xie in press). In Mongolia found in Dzungarian Govi Desert and parts of Trans Altai Govi Desert (Sokolov and Orlov, 1980). Recently recorded in Ikh Nartiin Chuluu Nature Reserve in Eastern Govi. At the end of XIX century used to be common in Caspian and Kazakhstan deserts and semi-deserts, but western part of the range drastically has drastically shrunk. Currently western limit of the range is at Zaisan basin, Kazakhstan (Gromov and Erbaeva, 1995). In Russia found in S Altai near the border with Kazakhstan and China.
Countries:	Native: China; Kazakhstan; Mongolia; Russian Federation
Range Map:	(click map to view full version)

Population [top]

Population:	This species experiences population fluctuations on a yearly basis, with large populations observed in 1993 (N. Batsaikhan pers. comm.), 1996, 1997 and 2002 (D. Avirmed pers. comm.), however, the most recent estimate in 2005 found small population sizes (D. Avirmed pers. comm.). In Kazakhstan and Russia it is rare.
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Inhabits dry-steppe, semi-desert, and stable sand dune habitats. In spring and summer they occur at lower altitudes, where they will remain until the grass is all dried at which time they will move up to higher altitudes to feed on montane grass through winter. Diurnal. Constructs burrows in areas of sandy soil, and each entrance is connected to others via runways. Feeds on roots, tubers and seeds of salsola, wormwood, and different grass near in the vicinity of their holes and emerges for only very short periods of time. Once the food around their hole has been depleted they will move on to a new hole or dig a new one. Reproduction occurs in the summer months producing at two (Mongolia) or least three (China) litters of about 6-9 young per litter. The young are sexually mature within 3-4 weeks. Population sizes and the extent of the distribution of the species may fluctuate greatly from year to year. In years of abundance the species may be distributed across all of N Xinjiang reaching densities of between 1,000-3,000 per hectare. When populations crash; however, the species is rare and restricted to just a few localities with very favorable conditions. Disease transmission is a problem during high population years.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

Inhabits dry-steppe, semi-desert, and stable sand dune habitats. In spring and summer they occur at lower altitudes, where they will remain until the grass is all dried at which time they will move up to higher altitudes to feed on montane grass through winter. Diurnal. Constructs burrows in areas of sandy soil, and each entrance is connected to others via runways. Feeds on roots, tubers and seeds of salsola, wormwood, and different grass near in the vicinity of their holes and emerges for only very short periods of time. Once the food around their hole has been depleted they will move on to a new hole or dig a new one. Reproduction occurs in the summer months producing at two (Mongolia) or least three (China) litters of about 6-9 young per litter. The young are sexually mature within 3-4 weeks. Population sizes and the extent of the distribution of the species may fluctuate greatly from year to year. In years of abundance the species may be distributed across all of N Xinjiang reaching densities of between 1,000-3,000 per hectare. When populations crash; however, the species is rare and restricted to just a few localities with very favorable conditions. Disease transmission is a problem during high population years.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Possible habitat degradation 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 to be major threats to the survival of the species.

Major Threat(s):

Possible habitat degradation 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 to be major threats to the survival of the species.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Least Concern in China, Data Deficient in Russia. In Mongolia approximately 50% of the species’ range occurs within protected areas.

Conservation Actions:

Least Concern in China, Data Deficient in Russia. In Mongolia approximately 50% of the species’ range occurs within protected areas.

Citation:	Batsaikhan, N., Avermid, D. & Tinnin, D. 2008. Eolagurus luteus. In: IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 23 November 2008.
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