Distribution of Spalax microphthalmus in Luhansk region (Ukraine) according to remote probing of the Earth.

Study Extent

A study of the spatial location of Spalax microphthalmus burrows in the Luhansk region during field trips from 2007 to 2020 showed that in the steppe habitats of type E1.2 and especially E1.13 Spalax microphthalmus are easily identified in high-precision Google satellite images. Emissions around the burrows, consisting mainly of crystalline chalk, stand out well against the general background of the habitat. The methodology was verified in Svativskyj, Starobilskyj and Novopskovskyj districts of Luhansk region in 2020 with the participation of our colleague Brian Milakovsky.

Sampling

As a result of the analysis of satellite images of the Google Earth service, the information about the distribution of Spalax microphthalmus burrows within the habitats of type E1.2 and E1.13 (the vast majority of the population) was obtained.

Quality Control

The author is fully responsible for the quality of data provided in the dataset.

Method steps

1. 1. The data set is based on Google satellite images from 2019.
2. 2. Coordinates were obtained from to the places, where emissions around the burrows, consisting mainly of crystalline chalk, stand out well against the general background of the habitat.

The points of reistration of greater mole-rats (Spalax microphthalmus) are shown.

1. Animalia
   rank: kingdom
2. Chordata
   rank: phylum
3. Mammalia
   rank: class
4. Rodentia
   rank: order
5. Spalacidae
   rank: family
6. Spalax
   rank: genus
7. microphthalmus
   rank: species

The data is collected from the territory of Luhansk region of Ukraine.