European Souslik

Facts

IUCN VULNERABLE (VU)

Facts about this animal

The European souslik is a small, marmot-like animal with a relatively slender body and short legs. It has a head-body length of 19-22 cm and a body-weight of 230-340 g. The ears are short and the tail is relatively long (55-75 mm). The fur is yellow-grey and unspotted or only undistinctly spotted on the upper parts. The belly is yellow, the chin and the throat are white.

The sousliks hibernate. They are almost entirely diurnal animals. They inhabit dry, open steppes with loamy, lime-rich soil. Secondarily they are found in meadows and fields.

They are social animals that inhabit sometimes complicated tunnel systems.

European sousliks mate only once a year. After a gestation period of 25-26 days, a litter of 2-9 young is born. The offspring are naked at birth with the eyes and the ears closed. The weaning period is about 30 days. They reach sexual maturity in one year.

The diet of the European souslik consists primarily of plant material, including nuts, seeds, and grains; however, individuals may also consume small invertebrates, small vertebrates, and bird's eggs.

Did you know?
that the European souslik is the only European representative of the genus Spermophilus? Other species of the genus are found in Asia, but most of them in North America, where they range from Mexico to Alaska.

Factsheet
Class	MAMMALIA
Order	RODENTIA
Suborder	SCIUROMORPHA
Family	SCIURIDAE
Name (Scientific)	Spermophilus citellus
Name (English)	European Souslik
Name (French)	Souslik d'Europe
Name (German)	Europäischer Ziesel
Name (Spanish)	Suslik europeo
Local names	Czech: Sysel obecný Hungarian: Közönséges ürge Polish: Susel moregowany Serbo-Croatian: Tekunica
CITES Status	Not listed
CMS Status	Not listed

Photo Copyright by
BS Thurner Hof

Distribution

Distribution
Range	Central and southern Europe
Habitat	Steppes and meadows with low vegetation
Wild population	Unknown, but decreasing (Red List IUCN 2011)
Zoo population	128 reported to ISIS

In the Zoo

How this animal should be transported

For air transport, Container Note 79 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.

Find this animal on ZooLex

Photo Copyright by
BS THurner Hof

Why do zoos keep this animal

The European souslik has lost a significant part of its habitat and has disappeared from many places within its former range. Currently a reintroduction project for which zoos provide animals is being undertaken in Poland. Being diurnal and social, the souslik is a good species for educational purposes and an ideal ambassador for its threatened grassland habitat.

How this animal should be kept

Sousliks are kept in outdoor enclosures. For up to 5 animals a minimum surface of 20 m² must be provided, and for each additional adult 2 m² more. Considering that souslik colonies tend to grow, it is not advisable to designe the enclosure smaller than 40 m².

The bounds of the enclosure - half-moats, walls or glass panels - should be at least 1 m high and need deep foundations to avoid that the sousliks will dig their way out of the enclosure. If a boundary fence is used, the upper part should be covered with a ~30cm-wide sheet of metal.

Some protection from predatory birds - raptors or crows - may be necessary, e.g covering the enclosure on top with stretched wires.

The soil of the enclosure should be well drained, sandy and covered with grass. Suitable dens should be provided for sleeping, rearing of young and hibernating, or the animals should be allowed to dig their own burrows.

The diet consists primarily of green fodder, hay, and vegetables. In addition branches should be offered for wearing the teeth.

Sousliks are suitable animals for walk-thru exhibits, and they can be kept in mixed exhibits e.g. together with ungulates such as pronghorn or bison, or in aviaries together with steppe birds, such as partridges.