---
title: "Russet Ground Squirrel"
description: "Spermophilus major — Mammals. The russet ground squirrel (Spermophilus major) is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/russet-ground-squirrel
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Russet Ground Squirrel

> Spermophilus major — Mammals. The russet ground squirrel (Spermophilus major) is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae.

- Scientific name: *Spermophilus major*
- Category: `mammals` (Mammals)
- Habitats: `grassland` (Fields & meadows)
- iNaturalist observations: 650
- Wikidata: [Q1768722](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1768722)
- iNaturalist taxon: [46048](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/46048)

## Names

- en: Russet Ground Squirrel
- de: Rotgelber Ziesel
- es: Ardilla de Tierra Roja
- fr: Souslik rouge
- it: Citello rossiccio
- pl: Suseł rdzawy

## Countries with the most observations

RU (580)

## Summary

The russet ground squirrel (Spermophilus major) is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. It is also known as the hibernating large ground squirrel and the large-toothed souslik. It is found in west central Asia where its natural habitat is temperate grassland.

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russet_ground_squirrel

## Photo

![Russet Ground Squirrel](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/russet-ground-squirrel/medium.jpg)

Photo: Anton Wahl · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/358248520

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/russet-ground-squirrel?lang=en` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).