Yellow ground squirrel

The yellow ground squirrel ("Spermophilus fulvus") is a large and sturdy ground squirrel species native to Afghanistan, China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Russia. It inhabits sandy steppes with Artemisia, glasswort and tamarisk.
The yellow ground squirrel has naked soles on the hind feet excluding heels. It is strictly diurnal and forages mainly in the morning when the vegetation is still damp. lives a very gregarious lifestyle in large colonies. Diet includes bulbs, seeds, stems and leaves. Like many other ground squirrels it hibernates, but it may also aestivate.