What is Little ground squirrel?
{{Taxobox | image = Citellus_pygmaeus_-_Museo_Civico_di_Storia_Naturale_Giacomo_Doria_-_Genoa,_Italy_-_DSC02783.JPG | regnum = [[Animalia]] | classis = [[Mammalia]] | ordo = [[Rodentia]] | familia = [[Sciuridae]] | genus = ''[[Spermophilus]]'' | binomial = ''Spermophilus pygmaeus'' }} The '''little ground squirrel''' (''Spermophilus pygmaeus'') is a species of [[rodent]] in the [[Sciuridae]] family.<ref>Former name: ''Citellus pymaeus''</ref> It is found in [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], [[Kazakhstan]], [[Russia]], [[Ukraine]], and [[Uzbekistan]]. The Caucasian mountain ground squirrel, ''Spermophilus musicus'', was previously a [[subspecies]], but is now a separate species. This species is [[diurnal]] and lives in [[grassland]], uncultivated ground, field edges and roadside verges. It avoids areas with dense long vegetation. It lives in [[Colony (biology)|colonies]] and builds burrows. It makes permanent burrows for hibernation and reproduction and temporary burrows for shelter. Before hibernation, all exits from the burrow are plugged by soil. In March or April the entrances are opened, the burrows cleaned and new construction starts. It uses mounds on the surface as look-out points.<ref>[http://www.agroatlas.ru/en/content/pests/Citellus_pygmaeus/ Agroatlas.]</ref> == References == {{reflist}} {{Biology-stub}} [[Category:Squirrels]] [[Category:Mammals of Asia]] [[Category:Mammals of Europe]]