Ellobius

(mole lemmings), a genus of rodents of the family Microtidae. The cylindrical trunk is about 13 cm long, and the tail is short. The fur is soft and ranges in color from sandy to dark brown; the guard hair is undeveloped. The forward protrusion of the incisors is an adaptation to burrowing. Mole lemmings are present in the steppes and deserts of Eurasia and in mountains with elevations to 4,000 m. Of the three species found in the USSR, the most common is E. talpinus, which is distributed in the European USSR, Kazakhstan, and Middle Asia. Mole lemmings feed on the underground parts of plants. In the south three or four litters are produced annually. Mole lemmings damage plantings of alfalfa, vegetables, and melons by digging up the ground.