Inhabits rocky mountain steppe, especially cliff openings and rock deposits, including those with shrubs or rare cereal and wormwood vegetation. Also was found in juniper stang boscage. Lives in groups or solitarily. In summer active only at night, in spring and autumn also diurnal. Feeds mainly on seeds, also to a lesser extent on leaves and shoots of grasses and shrubs. In captivity they have occasionally been observed to consume insects, their larvae and small spiders. Reproduces from end of March till beginning of May. Litter size is usually 3-5, maximally up to 7. Some females have second litter at the beginning of summer.

Red List Category

Red List Criteria

Year Assessed

Assessor/s

Reviewer/s

Justification

History

• 1996
  Lower Risk/near threatened

Abundance depends on the local availability of suitable habitats. In areas with high number of shelters it is abundant, in less suitable habitats it is rare. There are no population fluctuations, and in suitable habitats it is always abundant. Population trend is stable (Malikov pers. comm.).

Stable

There are no major threats to the species.

Occurs in some protected areas in Turkmenia.