304 Spermophilus dauricusses suggest a tradeoff between fecundity and survival in
both species. The Daurian ground squirrel is an effi cient hi-
bernator, dropping its body temperature to 4.8°C and em-
ploying nonshivering thermogenesis. There is strong ge-
netic diff erentiation between S. dauricus and three other
species of eastern palaearctic ground squirrels (S. relictus,
Urocitellus parryi, and U. undulatus).
general references: Cai et al. 1992; Gündüz et al. 2007a;
Q. Li et al. 2001; Luo and Fox 1990; A. T. Smith and Xie 2008;
Tsvirka, Spiridonova, et al. 2008; S. Q. Wang et al. 2002.
Spermophilus erythrogenys Brandt, 1841
Red-Cheeked Ground Squirrel
description: The color of the back ranges from pale yel-
low straw gray with faint whitish speckling to a more satu-
rated straw gray tinged with rust and patterned with straw
yellow spots. The back of the head is gray brown or gray
straw, and there is a broad chestnut brown spot beneath the
eye.
size: Female—HB 192.8 mm; T 46.1 mm.
Male—HB 187.8 mm; T 41.3 mm; Mass 335.0 g.
Sex not stated—HB 215.1 mm; T 46.5 mm; Mass 355.0 g.
distribution: This species is found in eastern Kazakhstan
and southwestern Siberia (Russia). S. erythrogenys formerly
included an isolated population from Mongolia and Inner
Mongolia (China). In this publication, that isolated popula-
tion, S. pallidicauda, is given full species status.
geographic variation: None.conservation: IUCN status—least concern. Population
trend—stable.habitat: This squirrel is found in xeric plains, typically
with dry steppe and semidesert vegetation, but in the north
it lives on the edge of birch (Betula) and European aspen
(Populus tremula) forests, while in the south it is found in
mountains, at elevations up to 2100 m.natural history: The red-cheeked ground squirrel’s diet
includes cereals and other grains, but this species may also
consume animal material, like most other sciurids. It hiber-
nates from late August until late March–April in simple but
deep burrows. Litter sizes are reported to vary from seven
to nine. This species is typically common throughout its
range, and it has large populations. This squirrel is consid-
ered susceptible to habitat loss as a result of activities related
to agricultural, grazing, and nomadic livestock management
practices, and it is also subject to hunting pressure. Results
from an RAPD-PCR genetic analysis demonstrate that S.
erythrogenys hybridizes with S. major in the region between
the Tobol and Ishim rivers in northern Kazakhstan and
southern Russia. Red-cheeked ground squirrels can host a
number of diseases, including encephalitis and tularemia, a
disease caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis, which
i s t ra n sm it ted to hu ma n s eit her by d i rec t cont ac t or by t ick s,
fl ies, and mosquito vectors. S. erythrogenys is host to at leastSpermophilus dauricus. Photo courtesy Susan Fox, http://www.fox
studio.biz.