View source for Spermophilus

{{Short description|Genus of rodents}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| name = ''Spermophilus''
| fossil_range = Middle [[Miocene]] - Recent
| image = Spermophilus major 203118140.jpg
| image_caption = ''[[Spermophilus major]]''
| taxon = Spermophilus
| authority = [[Frederic Cuvier|F. Cuvier]], 1825
| type_species = ''[[European ground squirrel|Mus citellus]]''
| type_species_authority = [[Linnaeus]], [[12th edition of Systema Naturae|1766]]
| subdivision_ranks = [[Species]]
| subdivision = See text.<!-- A list of sensu stricto species will be added after genus articles are started -->
}}
{{stack begin|clear=true}}
{{cladogram|align=right|width=250
|caption=Relationships among the [[Marmotini]] according to [[cytochrome b|cytochrome ''b'']] data (Helgen et al., 2009: fig. 2): Genera that were formerly included in ''Spermophilus'' are in bold.
|clades=
{{clade
|1={{clade
   |1={{clade
      |1=''[[Ammospermophilus]]''
      |2='''''[[Notocitellus]]'''''
      }}
   |2={{clade
      |1='''''[[Urocitellus]]'''''
      |2=''[[Marmota]]''
      |3='''''Spermophilus''''' ''[[sensu stricto]]''
      |4={{clade
         |1='''''[[Otospermophilus]]'''''
         |2='''''[[Callospermophilus]]'''''
         }}
      |5={{clade
         |1='''''[[Ictidomys]]'''''
         |2={{clade
            |1='''''[[Poliocitellus]]'''''
            |2={{clade
               |1=''[[Cynomys]]''
               |2='''''[[Xerospermophilus]]'''''
               }}
            }}
         }}
      }}
   }}
}}
}}
{{stack end}}
'''''Spermophilus''''' is a [[genus]] of [[ground squirrel]]s in the [[Sciuridae|squirrel family]].<ref>{{MSW3|id=12400978}}</ref> As traditionally defined the genus was very species-rich, ranging through Europe, Asia and North America, but this arrangement was found to be [[paraphyletic]] to the certainly distinct [[prairie dog]]s, [[marmot]]s, and [[antelope squirrel]]s. As a consequence, all the former ''Spermophilus'' species of North America have been moved to other genera, leaving the European and Asian species as true ''Spermophilus'' (the only exceptions are two Asian ''[[Urocitellus]]'').<ref>{{cite journal | author = Helgen Kristofer M | display-authors = etal | year = 2009 | title = Generic revision in the Holarctic ground squirrel genus Spermophilus | journal = Journal of Mammalogy | volume = 90 | issue = 2| pages = 270–305 | doi = 10.1644/07-mamm-a-309.1 | doi-access = free }}</ref>

Some species are sometimes called '''susliks''' (or sousliks). This name comes from Russian [[:ru:Суслики|суслик]], ''suslik''.<ref>[http://www.thefreedictionary.com/suslik The Free Dictionary]</ref> In some languages, a derivative of the name is in common usage, for example ''suseł'' in Polish. The scientific name of this genus means "seed-lovers" (gr. σπέρμα ''sperma'', genitive σπέρματος ''spermatos'' – seed; φίλος ''philos'' – friend, lover).<ref>{{cite journal |last1= Palmer |first1= T.S. |year= 1904|title= Index Generum Mammalium: a List of the Genera and Families of Mammals|url= https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/88553#page/647/mode/1up|journal= North American Fauna|volume= 23 |pages= 639|doi= 10.3996/nafa.23.0001 | access-date= 2018-02-09|doi-access= free}}</ref>

==Habitat and behavior==
As typical ground squirrels, ''Spermophilus'' live in open habitats like grasslands, meadows, [[steppe]] and semideserts, feed on the low plants, and use burrows as nests and refuge.<ref name=Krystufek2012>{{cite journal | author1=Kryštufek, B. | author2=B. Vohralík | year=2012 | title=Taxonomic revision of the Palaearctic rodents (Rodentia). Part 1 (Eutamias and Spermophilus) | journal=Lynx, N. S. (Praha) | volume=43 | pages=17–111 }}</ref> They are [[Diurnality|diurnal]] and mostly live in colonies, although some species also can occur singly.<ref name=Smith2008>{{cite book | editor1=Smith, A.T. | editor2= Y. Xie | year=2008 | title=A Guide to the Mammals of China | publisher=Princeton University Press | pages=193–196 | isbn=978-0-691-09984-2 }}</ref> They are found in both lowlands to highlands, [[hibernate]] during the colder months (up to {{circa}} 8{{1/2}} months each year in some species) and in arid regions they may also [[aestivate]] during the summer or fall.<ref name=Krystufek2012/> The distributions of the various species are mostly separated, often by large rivers, although there are regions inhabited by as many as three species and rarely two species may even form mixed colonies.<ref name=Krystufek2012/> A few species are known to [[Hybrid (biology)|hybridize]] where their ranges come into contact.<ref name=Krystufek2012/>

==Appearance==
''Spermophilus'' are overall yellowish, light orangish, light brownish or greyish. Although many are inconspicuously mottled or spotted, or have orange markings on the head, overall they lack strong patterns, except in ''[[Speckled ground squirrel|S. suslicus]]'', which commonly has brown upperparts with clear white spotting.<ref name=Krystufek2012/> Size varies with species and they have a head-and-body length of {{circa}} {{cvt|17-40|cm|in}}. Before hibernation the largest ''[[Yellow ground squirrel|S. fulvus]]'' may weigh up to {{cvt|2|kg|lb}} and the largest ''[[Russet ground squirrel|S. major]]'' up to almost {{cvt|1.4|kg|lb}}, but they always weigh much less earlier in the year and other species are considerably smaller, mostly less than {{cvt|0.5|kg|lb}} even in peak condition before hibernation.<ref name=Krystufek2012/> All have a fairly short tail that—depending on exact species—is around 10–45% of the length of the head-and-body.<ref name=Krystufek2012/>

==Relationship with humans==
Ground squirrels may carry fleas that transmit diseases to humans (see [[Black Death]]), and have been destructive in tunneling underneath human habitation.<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/246960/ground-squirrel Encyclopædia Britannica]</ref>

== Species ==
[[File:Spermophilus suslicus (G Lesniewski).jpg|thumb|''[[Spermophilus suslicus]]'', a species that commonly has clearly white-spotted upperparts]]

A generic revision was undertaken in 2007 by means of [[Phylogenetics|phylogenetic]] analyses using the [[Mitochondrion|mitochondrial]] gene [[cytochrome b]]. This resulted in the splitting of ''Spermophilus'' into eight genera, which with the [[prairie dog]]s, [[marmot]]s, and [[antelope squirrel]]s are each given as numbered [[clade]]s. The exact relations between the clades are slightly unclear. Among these, the exclusively [[Palearctic]] species are retained as the genus ''Spermophilus sensu stricto'' (in the strictest sense).<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Helgen, Kristofer M. |author2=Cole, F. Russel |author3=Helgen, Lauren E. |author4=Wilson, Don E |name-list-style=amp |year=2009 |title=Generic Revision in the Holarctic Ground Squirrel Genus ''Spermophilus'' |doi=10.1644/07-MAMM-A-309.1 |journal=Journal of Mammalogy |volume=90 |issue=2 |pages=270–305 |doi-access=free }}</ref> According to a 2024 genetic study the genus can be divided into four major clades that diverged during the [[Late Miocene]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Simonov |first1=Evgeniy |last2=Lopatina |first2=Natalia V. |last3=Titov |first3=Sergey V. |last4=Ivanova |first4=Anastasiya D. |last5=Brandler |first5=Oleg V. |last6=Surin |first6=Vadim L. |last7=Matrosova |first7=Vera A. |last8=Dvilis |first8=Alisa E. |last9=Oreshkova |first9=Nataliya V. |last10=Kapustina |first10=Svetlana Yu. |last11=Golenishchev |first11=Fedor N. |last12=Ermakov |first12=Oleg A. |date=2024-06-01 |title=Traditional multilocus phylogeny fails to fully resolve Palearctic ground squirrels (Spermophilus) relationships but reveals a new species endemic to West Siberia |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1055790324000496 |journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution |volume=195 |pages=108057 |doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2024.108057 |pmid=38471598 |bibcode=2024MolPE.19508057S |issn=1055-7903|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
* ''Spermophilus [[sensu stricto]]'', [[Old World]] ground squirrels
:'''East Asian clade'''
:* [[Alashan ground squirrel]], ''Spermophilus alashanicus''
:* [[Daurian ground squirrel]], ''Spermophilus dauricus'' 
:'''Asia Minor/European clade'''
:* [[European ground squirrel]], ''Spermophilus citellus''
:* [[Speckled ground squirrel|Podolian souslik]] ''(Spermophilus odessanus'')
:* [[Speckled ground squirrel]], ''Spermophilus suslicus''
:* [[Taurus ground squirrel]], ''Spermophilus taurensis''
:* [[Asia Minor ground squirrel]], ''Spermophilus xanthoprymnus'' 
:'''''Pygmaeus''-clade'''
:* [[Caucasian Mountain ground squirrel]], ''Spermophilus musicus''
:* [[Little ground squirrel]], ''Spermophilus pygmaeus''
:'''''Colobotis''-clade'''
:* [[Brandt's ground squirrel]], ''Spermophilus brevicauda''
:* [[Red-cheeked ground squirrel]], ''Spermophilus erythrogenys''
:* [[Yellow ground squirrel]], ''Spermophilus fulvus''
:* [[Russet ground squirrel]], ''Spermophilus major''
:* [[Pallid ground squirrel]], ''Spermophilus pallidicauda''
:* ''[[Relict ground squirrel|Spermophilus ralli]]''
:* [[Relict ground squirrel]], ''Spermophilus relictus''
:* ''[[Spermophilus selevinus]]''
:* ''[[Spermophilus vorontsovi]]''

===Prehistoric species===
Discovery and examination of one of the best preserved Eurasian ground squirrel fossils yet recovered allowed the study of many previously unknown aspects of ground squirrel cranial anatomy, and prompted a critical reassessment of their phylogenetic position.<ref>{{Cite journal|author1=Maxim V. Sinitsa |author2=Natalia V. Pogodina |author3=Lyudmila Y. Кryuchkova |year=2019 |title=The skull of ''Spermophilus nogaici'' (Rodentia: Sciuridae: Xerinae) and the affinities of the earliest Old World ground squirrels |journal=Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society |volume=186 |issue=3 |pages=826–864 |doi=10.1093/zoolinnean/zly092 }}</ref> As a result, three [[Pleistocene]] species previously considered members of the ''[[Urocitellus]]'' genus were moved to ''Spermophilus'':{{cn|date=January 2025}}

:* [[Extinction|†]]''[[Spermophilus nogaici]]''
:* [[Extinction|†]]''[[Spermophilus polonicus]]''
:* [[Extinction|†]]''[[Spermophilus primigenius]]''
In addition to the recent species, three now-extinct species are known from the Pleistocene of Europe:

''[[Spermophilus citelloides]]'' is known from the Middle Pleistocene to early Holocene of central Europe. It appears to be most closely related to the living ''S. suslicus''.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Sinitsa|first1=Maxim V.|last2=Virág|first2=Attila|last3=Pazonyi|first3=Piroska|last4=Knitlová|first4=Markéta|date=2019-10-29|title=Redescription and phylogenetic relationships of Spermophilus citelloides (Rodentia: Sciuridae: Xerinae), a ground squirrel from the Middle Pleistocene – Holocene of Central Europe|url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08912963.2019.1677640|journal=Historical Biology|volume=33|pages=19–39|doi=10.1080/08912963.2019.1677640|s2cid=208578857|issn=0891-2963|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

''[[Spermophilus severskensis]]'' is known from the late Pleistocene ([[Weichselian glaciation|Weichselian]]) of the [[Desna (river)|Desna]] area, Ukraine. It appears to have been a highly specialised grazer and close relative of the living ''S. pygmaeus''.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Popova |first1=L. V. |last2=Maul |first2=L. C. |last3=Zagorodniuk |first3=I. V. |last4=Veklych |first4=Yu. M. |last5=Shydlovskiy |first5=P. S. |last6=Pogodina |first6=N. V. |last7=Bondar |first7=K. M. |last8=Strukova |first8=T. V. |last9=Parfitt |first9=S. A. |date=2019-03-10 |title='Good fences make good neighbours': Concepts and records of range dynamics in ground squirrels and geographical barriers in the Pleistocene of the Circum-Black Sea area |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1040618217307267 |journal=Quaternary International |series=Bridging Europe and Asia: Quaternary stratigraphy and paleolithic human occupation |volume=509 |pages=103–120 |doi=10.1016/j.quaint.2018.03.023 |bibcode=2019QuInt.509..103P |issn=1040-6182}}</ref>

''[[Spermophilus superciliosus]]'' is known from the Middle Pleistocene to reportedly the early 20th century, with a vast range across much of Europe, from southern England to the [[Volga]] and the [[Ural Mountains]]. It was similar in size to the recent ''S. major'', and a probable ancestor of ''S. fulvus''.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Popova |first=L. V. |date=2016-10-28 |title=Evolutionary lineage of Spermophilus superciliosus – S. fulvus (Rodentia, Sciuridae) in the quaternary of the Dnieper area: An ability of a biostratigraphical implication |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1040618215010903 |journal=Quaternary International |series=The Quaternary of the Urals: Global trends and Pan-European Quaternary records |volume=420 |pages=319–328 |doi=10.1016/j.quaint.2015.10.104 |bibcode=2016QuInt.420..319P |issn=1040-6182|doi-access=free }}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons|Spermophilus}}
{{Wikispecies|Spermophilus}}

{{Marmotini nav}}
{{Sciuromorpha|state=collapsed}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q199251}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Spermophilus| ]]
[[Category:Rodents of Europe]]
[[Category:Mammals of North America]]
[[Category:Mammals of Asia]]
[[Category:Rodent genera]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Frédéric Cuvier]]