{{Short description|Species of rodent}} {{Speciesbox | name = Yellow ground squirrel | image = Spermophilus fulvus Baikonur 02.jpg | image2 = Желтый суслик на закате у норы.jpg | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name=iucn>{{cite iucn |author=Cassola, F. |date=2017 |title=''Spermophilus fulvus'' |volume=2017 |article-number=e.T20484A22263403 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T20484A22263403.en |access-date=17 November 2021}}</ref> | genus = Spermophilus | species = fulvus | authority = (Lichtenstein, 1823) }}

The '''yellow ground squirrel''' ('''''Spermophilus fulvus''''') is a large and sturdy ground squirrel species native to Afghanistan, China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Russia. It inhabits sandy steppes with Artemisia, glasswort and tamarisk.<ref name=iucn/>

The yellow ground squirrel has naked soles on the hind feet excluding heels. It lives in large colonies, is strictly diurnal and forages mainly in the morning when the vegetation is still damp. Its diet includes bulbs, seeds, stems and leaves. It hibernates, but it may also aestivate.<ref name=Aulagnier>{{cite book |author1=Aulagnier S. |author2=Haffner, P. |author3=Mitchell-Jones, A. J. |author4=Moutou, F. |author5=Zima, J. |year=2009 |title=Mammals of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East |publisher=A&C Black |place=London}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}} {{Commons category|Spermophilus fulvus}}

{{S. Xerinae2 nav}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q1766612}}

Category:Spermophilus Category:Mammals of Afghanistan Category:Mammals of the Middle East Category:Mammals described in 1823 Category:Taxa named by Hinrich Lichtenstein Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot

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