Squirrels of the World

Spermophilus brevicauda 301

conservation: IUCN status—least concern. Population
trend—decreasing.

habitat: This species is found in open meadows of steppe,
montane, and alpine terrain, up to an elevation of 3200 m. It
usually is found in areas with grasses, shrubs, and forbs, but
it also occurs in dry sandy areas of deserts in central China
and in grasslands near the Gobi Desert.

natural history: S. alashanicus is herbivorous, feeding on
herbs, plants, and grains, including crops. Between three
and six young per litter are usually produced, although lit-
ter sizes as high as nine and as few as one have been re-
ported. The young are born in June. S. alashanicus hiber-
nates. High-pitched vocalizations are frequently produced
by Alashan ground squirrels. Little else is known about its
natural history.

general references: R. G. Harrison et al. 2003; Hayssen
2008a, 2008b; Helgen et al. 2009; Shar, Lkhagvasuren, and
Smith 2008; A. T. Smith and Xi 2008.

Spermophilus brevicauda Brandt, 1843

Brandt’s Ground Squirrel

description: Brandt’s ground squirrel is small relative to
other species of Spermophilus. It has a yellow brown dorsal
pelage with light spots on the dorsum. The tail is short,
varying in color from yellow to orange. A light eye ring is
usually visible.

size: Female—HB 197.0 mm; T 42.0 mm.
Sex not stated—HB 284.5 mm; T 50.8 mm.

distribution: Brandt’s ground squirrel is found along the

border of Kazakhstan through northwestern China to the

border of Mongolia; and between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyz-

stan, in the “Zaisan depression south and westward along

the Tien Shan Mountains to the vicinity of Almaty, on both

sides of the Kazakhstan–Chinese border” (R. W. Thorington

and Hoff mann).

geographic variation: None.

conservation: IUCN Status—least concern. Population

trend—no information.

habitat: This species is usually associated with semidesert

vegetation in dry steppes; however, limited information is

available on its habitat use.

natural history: Brandt’s ground squirrel lives in under-

ground burrows near vegetation. It hibernates in winter

months and estivates when summer temperatures are high.

Omnivorous in its diet, this species relies on shoots and

bulbs from a variety of vegetation; it sometimes climbs or

digs for food. S. brevicauda has limited vocalizations. Noth-

ing is known about its population or reproductive biology.

No predators or parasites are reported.

general references: R. G. Harrison et al. 2003; A. T.

Smith and Johnston 2008e; A. T. Smith and Xie 2008.

Spermophilus alashanicus. Photo courtesy Danny Yee.