{{Short description|Species of rodent}} {{Speciesbox | name = Long-tailed ground squirrel | image = Ground squirrel stealing our food (31617998822).jpg | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Cassola, F. |date=2016 |title=''Urocitellus undulatus'' |volume=2016 |article-number=e.T20494A22264197 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T20494A22264197.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref> | genus = Urocitellus | species = undulatus | authority = (Pallas, 1778) | synonyms = *''Arctomys altaicus'' *''Citellus eversmanni'' *''Citellus undulatus'' *''Spermophilus undulatus'' }}
The '''long-tailed ground squirrel''' or '''Eversmann's souslik''' ('''''Urocitellus undulatus''''') is a species of rodent in the squirrel family Sciuridae.<ref name="AG">[http://www.agroatlas.ru/en/content/pests/Citellus_undulatus/ AgroAtlas]</ref> It is found in China, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and Russia.<ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021" />
==Description== The long-tailed ground squirrel has a compact, low-slung body, short legs and a long bushy tail.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.arkive.org/european-ground-squirrel/spermophilus-citellus/#text=Description |title=ARKive |access-date=2010-11-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101021061128/http://www.arkive.org/european-ground-squirrel/spermophilus-citellus/#text=Description#text=Description |archive-date=2010-10-21 }}</ref> The body length reaches up to {{convert|315|mm|in}} and the tail {{convert|160|mm|in}}. The back is brown with a linear pattern of dark, small spots. The underparts are a paler ochre-brown with a reddish tinge along the side. The tail is barred in brown and black with a prominent light edge stripe and a pale tip.<ref name="AG"/>
==Distribution and range== This species is found in submontane steppes up to {{convert|3100|m|ft}}, plains, meadows, the edges of pine forests and birch woods, clearings and agricultural land<ref name="AG"/> from Southern Siberia and Altai (Russia) to Manchuria. There are two isolated populations in Eastern Siberia, one in southeastern Yakutia and the other in the south of the Amur region. It also occurs in Mongolia and in the northwestern and northeastern parts of China.<ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021" />
==Behavior== The long-tailed ground squirrel lives in colonies with a labyrinth of burrows. In light sandy soils these are up to {{convert|3|m|ft}} deep with a single entrance hole surrounded by a large mound of soil up to {{convert|2|m|ft}} in diameter. The underground passages extend up to {{convert|15|m|ft}}. In heavier clay soils, the holes are about {{convert|2|m|ft}} deep, stretch {{convert|5|-|7|m|ft}} and have several entrances. The animals awake from hibernation in March and the young are born about a month later. There are usually five to eight young in a brood. Activity is concentrated in the early morning and then again in the afternoon and evening, the animals retiring to their burrows in the middle of the day. The diet consists of green vegetation, seeds, insects,<ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021" /> bulbs and roots. Before hibernation begins in October, up to {{convert|6|kg|lb}} of vegetation and grain are stored in the burrows.<ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021" /><ref name="AG"/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Commons category-inline|Urocitellus undulatus}}
{{S. Xerinae2 nav}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q1763717|from2=Q21730559}}
Category:Urocitellus Category:Rodents of China Category:Fauna of Kazakhstan Category:Mammals of Mongolia Category:Mammals of Russia Category:Mammals described in 1778 Category:Taxa named by Peter Simon Pallas Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot