Spermophilus pallidicauda
Encyclopedia
The pallid ground squirrel, (Spermophilus pallidicauda), is a species of rodent
in the Sciuridae family. It is found in Mongolia
and the adjacent Nei Mongol autonomous region.
A generic revision of the genus was undertaken in 2007 which helped resolve the uncertainty as to whether this species should be considered a subspecies of Spermophilus erythrogenys. A phylogeny based on molecular sequence data determined that S. pallidicauda was indeed a separate species from S. erythrogenys, and from the other similar species in the genus, S. brevicauda and S. alashanicus.
near Lake Khulu-Nur and the Baidarak River and in Ullyn Bulyk, the Mongolian and the Gobi Altai Mountains. The closely related species, Spermophilus alashanicus
from the Alashan Desert
and Spermophilus brevicauda
, found in eastern Kazakhstan and in Tian Shan
mountain range, are allopatric
in distribution as they are largely separated by geographic boundaries. It has been found to hybridise with P. alashanicus where their ranges do overlap.
Rodent
Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing....
in the Sciuridae family. It is found in Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
and the adjacent Nei Mongol autonomous region.
A generic revision of the genus was undertaken in 2007 which helped resolve the uncertainty as to whether this species should be considered a subspecies of Spermophilus erythrogenys. A phylogeny based on molecular sequence data determined that S. pallidicauda was indeed a separate species from S. erythrogenys, and from the other similar species in the genus, S. brevicauda and S. alashanicus.
Distribution
The pallid ground squirrel is found in MongoliaMongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
near Lake Khulu-Nur and the Baidarak River and in Ullyn Bulyk, the Mongolian and the Gobi Altai Mountains. The closely related species, Spermophilus alashanicus
Alashan Ground Squirrel
The Alashan ground squirrel is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family. It is found in China and Mongolia....
from the Alashan Desert
Alxa League
Alxa League is one of 12 prefecture level divisions and three extant leagues of Inner Mongolia. The league borders Mongolia to the north, Bayan Nur to the northeast, Wuhai and Ordos to the east, Ningxia to the southeast, and Gansu to the south and west. The capital is Bayan Hot in the aimag's...
and Spermophilus brevicauda
Spermophilus brevicauda
Brandt’s Ground Squirrel, , is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family. It is found in eastern Kazakhstan and the northern half of the Xinjiang region of China....
, found in eastern Kazakhstan and in Tian Shan
Tian Shan
The Tian Shan , also spelled Tien Shan, is a large mountain system located in Central Asia. The highest peak in the Tian Shan is Victory Peak , ....
mountain range, are allopatric
Allopatric speciation
Allopatric speciation or geographic speciation is speciation that occurs when biological populations of the same species become isolated due to geographical changes such as mountain building or social changes such as emigration...
in distribution as they are largely separated by geographic boundaries. It has been found to hybridise with P. alashanicus where their ranges do overlap.