European Ground Squirrel

Spermophilus citellus

The European Ground Squirrel is a small, cute animal that loves to dig and live in burrows. They have fluffy tails and enjoy munching on seeds and plants in the grasslands.

Hábitat: Grasslands

Aspecto

The European Ground Squirrel has a slender body with yellowish-grey fur, often speckled with darker spots. Its tail is relatively short and bushy, distinguishing it from tree squirrels. It features large, dark eyes and small, rounded ears.

ReinoAnimaliaFiloChordataClaseMammaliaOrdenRodentiaFamiliaSciuridaeGéneroSpermophilus

European Ground Squirrel

Categoría

Mamíferos

Rareza

Common

Peligro

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Snaps

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Datos interesantes

Some colonies can have hundreds of squirrels living together in a big underground community.

Their burrows are surprisingly tidy; they often push old bedding and waste out of the entrances.

Their teeth grow constantly, so they must chew on tough foods to keep them from getting too long.

They often sunbathe! European Ground Squirrels sometimes lie flat on warm rocks to soak up sunshine.

Habilidades especiales

European Ground Squirrels can emit high-pitched alarm calls to warn their colony about predators approaching from land or air.

European Ground Squirrels can dash quickly into their extensive underground burrow systems to escape danger from predators.

European Ground Squirrels have expandable cheek pouches that allow them to carry large amounts of gathered food back to their burrows.

Medidas y detalles

Longitud: 18-24 cm
Peso: 0.2-0.4 kg
Esperanza de vida: 2-4 años
Top Speed: 40 km/h
Tamaño de la camada: 3-8
Gestación: 25-28 días

Dieta y alimentación

These squirrels munch on various plants, seeds, and insects found in their grassy homes.

Alimentos principales

Grasses
Seeds
Roots
Leaves
Insects
Small invertebrates

Método de búsqueda

Foraging

Conexiones ecológicas

eaten by

Red Fox

Vulpes vulpes

A common predator of ground squirrels.

eaten by

Common Buzzard

Buteo buteo

A bird of prey that hunts ground squirrels.

eaten by

European Polecat

Mustela putorius

A nocturnal predator that targets burrows.

eats

Sheep's Fescue

Festuca ovina

A primary food source of grasses for them.

Rasgos

Peludo

Peludo describe a los animales que poseen una cubierta densa de pelo o pelaje suave.

Social

Los animales sociales viven en grupos organizados, cooperando para obtener beneficios de supervivencia como la búsqueda de alimento, la defensa y la cría de descendencia.

Excavador

Los animales excavadores cavan túneles y cámaras en el suelo y utilizan estas estructuras subterráneas para refugiarse, cazar o reproducirse.

Herbívoro

Este rasgo caracteriza a los organismos cuya dieta consiste total o principalmente en material vegetal.

Pastizal

Los hábitats de pastizales son biomas terrestres dominados por pastos y plantas herbáceas, que sustentan a una variedad de animales de pastoreo.

Hibernante

Los animales hibernantes entran en un estado de depresión metabólica durante períodos de frío o escasez de alimentos, caracterizado por una reducción de la temperatura corporal y la actividad.