Endemic Anatolian Ground Squirrels of Sultan Marshes

Sultansazlığı is an ecologically important wetland whose hydrological features are seen on par with that if the Okavango Delta. Both are inland wetland systems that are not connected to the sea and depend on seasonal precipitation. However, the hydrology of Sultansazlığı is much more complex since it also contains a saline lake (Lake Yay) which supports flora and fauna adapted to salinity gradients. The basin is surrounded by the extinct stratovolcano Erciyes Mountain (3.916 m) in the north (seen in the video), Develi Mountain (2.074 m) in the east, Aladağ Mountains (3.373 m) in the south and Karadağ and Hodul Mountains in the west. It is an important feeding ground for migrating birds between Africa and Eurasia.

Locally Anatolian ground squirrels are known as “Gelengi” or “Gelenge”. Scientifically, they are the Anatolian ground squirrels (Spermophilus xanthophrymnus). In this short observation you can see two individuals foraging in separate observations at Sultan marshes.

Biologists have defined two other very closely related but reproductively isolated species of ground squirrels. The European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) is found in eastern Europe. The Taurus ground squirrel (Spermophilus taurensis) lives in a rather restricted region of mountains of southern Anatolia and are endemic. The Anatolian ground squirrel can also be considered endemic although small populations exist in steppes of western Armenia and northwestern Iran.

Female ground squirrels mate soon after they wake up from their winter hibernation that lasts about 7 months. The gestation period is quite short only about 25 days. On average, a female gives birth to between 4-5 offspring. The juveniles spend their first 4 weeks entirely underground. In the following video you can see 5 juveniles that are reported to be approximately 5-6 weeks old hanging out in their nest entrance. A Turkish research team lead by Dr. Hakan Gür who studies their population dynamics recorded the observation on May 8th 2020 near Ankara.