Sicista strandi (Formozov, 1931)

Mary Ellen Holden, 1993, Order Rodentia - Family Dipodidae, Mammal Species of the World (2 nd Edition), Washington and London: Smithsonian Institution Press, pp. 487-499 : 497

Sicista strandi (Formozov, 1931) . Folia Zool. Hydrob. Riga, 3:79.

TYPE LOCALITY: Russia, Caucasus, Stavropol Krai, Karachayevo-Cherkess Region, Karachayevsk District, Uchkulan (Utschkulak), Igera, 2100 meters; shown in Sokolov et al. (1989) .

DISTRIBUTION: N Caucasus, north to Kursk District of S Russia; see Sokolov et al. (1989).

COMMENTS: Sokolov et al. (1989) distinguished this species from S. betulina primarily by its different karyotype. Pavlinov and Rossolimo (1987) tentatively listed S. strandi as a separate species, a hypothesis provisionally followed here. Further documentation and incorporation of other character sets is essential in order to assess whether or not strandi should be included in S. betulina .