Speckled Ground Squirrel
CR

Speckled Ground Squirrel

Spermophilus suslicus

DecliningNTEUNTEU

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA) — Species of rodent

Overview

The speckled ground squirrel or spotted souslik is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae from Eastern Europe. Spermophilus suslicus consists of three subspecies: S. s. boristhenicus, S. s. guttatus, and S. s. suslicus. It is threatened by habitat loss.

The Spotted Souslik faces severe population decline primarily due to agricultural intensification and conversion of natural steppe grasslands to cropland across its range in Eastern Europe. Habitat fragmentation has isolated remaining populations, making them vulnerable to local extinctions and reducing genetic diversity. Urban development and infrastructure projects have further reduced available habitat, while changes in traditional grazing practices have altered the grassland structure these ground squirrels depend upon.

Threat summary

Habitat

The Spotted Souslik inhabits short-grass steppes, natural grasslands, and meadows across Eastern Europe, particularly favoring areas with well-drained soils suitable for burrow construction. These ground squirrels require open grassland habitats with sparse vegetation that allows for visibility while foraging and easy access to underground burrow systems.

Artificial - Terrestrial· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies reintroductionLegislation

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Speckled Ground Squirrel classified as Critically Endangered?
Speckled Ground Squirrel is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Spotted Souslik faces severe population decline primarily due to agricultural intensification and conversion of natural steppe grasslands to cropland across its range in Eastern Europe. Habitat fragmentation has isolated remaining populations, making them vulnerable to local extinctions and reducing genetic diversity. Urban development and infrastructure projects have further reduced available habitat, while changes in traditional grazing practices have altered the grassland structure these ground squirrels depend upon.
Where does Speckled Ground Squirrel live?
Speckled Ground Squirrel occurs in Belarus, Moldova, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Speckled Ground Squirrel?
The main threats to Speckled Ground Squirrel are 1.1, 1.2, 11.1, and 2.1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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