[1] The long-tailed ground squirrel has a compact, low-slung body, short legs and a long bushy tail.

The tail is barred in brown and black with a prominent light edge stripe and a pale tip.

[2] This species is found in submontane steppes up to 3,100 metres (10,200 ft), plains, meadows, the edges of pine forests and birch woods, clearings and agricultural land[2] from Southern Siberia and Altai (Russia) to Manchuria.

Activity is concentrated in the early morning and then again in the afternoon and evening, the animals retiring to their burrows in the middle of the day.

Before hibernation begins in October, up to 6 kilograms (13 lb) of vegetation and grain are stored in the burrows.