Spermophilus taurensis, Gunduz, Jaarola, Tez, Yeniyurt, Polly, & Searle, 2007
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6840226 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6819008 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/064D0660-FFA4-ED5A-FADF-F529FE1FF4A8 |
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treatment provided by |
Diego |
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scientific name |
Spermophilus taurensis |
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Tauren Ground Squirrel
Spermophilus taurensis View in CoL
French: Spermophile des Taurus / German: Taurus-Ziesel / Spanish: Ardilla terrestre de Tauro
Other common names: Taurus Ground Squirrel, Taurus Souslik
Taxonomy. Spermophilus taurensis Guinduz et al., 2007,
“Akseki, Yarpuz, E of Antalya,
Turkey.”
Spermophilus taurensis diverged from S. citel-
lus ¢.2-5 million years ago. Until recently,it was included in S. xanthoprymnus but is now listed as a separate species. Monotypic.
Distribution. Erenkaya to Morca Yaylasi and Salamut Plateau to Mut, in the Taurus Mts, S Turkey.
Descriptive notes. Head-body mean 201 mm (females), tail mean 61 mm (females); weight mean 201 g (females). No measurements available for males. Dorsum of the Tauren Ground Squirrel is grizzled
straw yellow, flecked with dark brown to black and suffusion of red. Cheeks, chin, and small post-auricular patches are buff. Feet are pale buff, and soles are hairy. Tail is broad, reddish, and paler below than above butis distinctly blackish toward tip.
Habitat. Montane habitats above elevations of ¢.1000 m.
Food and Feeding. There is no information available for this species.
Breeding. There is no information available for this species.
Activity patterns. Tauren Ground Squirrels are diurnal.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. Alarm vocalization of the Tuaren Ground Squirrelis tonal with two elements,the first decreasing in frequency and the second increasing.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Current population trend of the Tauren Ground Squirrel is unknown. It is not thought to face major human impacts because it occurs at high elevations. Given recent reclassification of the Tauren Ground squirrel as a separate species, research is needed to understand how it differs ecologically from closely related congeners.
Bibliography. Ginduz et al. (2007a, 2007b), Krystufek & Vohralik (2012), Schneiderova & Policht (2012), Thor ington et al. (2012).
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.