Dark Roller vs European Ground Squirrel

Ancylis upupana compared with Spermophilus citellus

Key Differences

• Dark Roller is Near Threatened while European Ground Squirrel is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Dark Roller	European Ground Squirrel
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Insecta (Insects)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)	Rodentia (Rodents)
Family	Tortricidae	Sciuridae (Squirrels)
Genus	Ancylis	Spermophilus
Species	Ancylis upupana	Spermophilus citellus

Evolutionary Relationship

Dark Roller and European Ground Squirrel share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Dark Roller

NT — Near Threatened

European Ground Squirrel

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Dark Roller	European Ground Squirrel
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Dark Roller

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

European Ground Squirrel

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found in Ukraine. Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.