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The ranges of all three zokor (Myospalax) species, the little-studied burrowing rodent, are described in southeastern Transbaikalia, Russia, based on the results of special expeditions. Myospalax aspalax inhabits only the Onon River basin, M. psilurus populates the forested steppe in the Argun River basin and the upper reaches of the Borzya River (a tributary of the Onon River), while M. armandii is known only from the Klichkinskii Mountain Range. The distribution area of M. armandii is very small (less than 2000 km2) and is isolated from the other parts of the range (in China). The zokor species in the region are shown to be parapatric, with no sympatry being involved. The ranges of M. psilurus and M. armandii are the closest, the distance between the closest settlements being less than 5 km. Reduction in the zokor distributions is observed in Transbaikalia. It is advisable to include M. armandii on the Red Data list of Russia.

The features, population characteristics of reproduction, nutrition, and lifestyle of an extremely poorly studied narrow-range species of underground rodents—the false zokor (Myospalax aspalax)—have been described on the basis of original field materials. The data were obtained within the Russian part of the species range in Zabaikal’skii krai. The false zokor is characterized by a pronounced sexual dimorphism in body size (males are larger) and a predominance of females in the population. Mating takes place in April; at other times of the year, zokors lead a solitary lifestyle. The size of the brood is small: 3.7 embryos per breeding female. Their preferred food is bulbs and rhizomes of Allium, Thermopsis, Phragmites, and Leymus. In Eastern Transbaikalia, they are active in winter.

It was demonstrated that in Y-maze individuals of the outdoor species Myodes glareolus and the semi-synanthropic species Microtus levis avoided the urine odor of commensal Mus musculus. On the contrary mice stayed longer in the maze compartment with the odor of voles. The level of avoidance of commensal mice odor was higher than the other strange odors (urine of rabbit or outdoor mouse Mus spicilegus). It is assumed that the sharp smell of commensal mice is an adaptation designed to hold and protect a particular ecological niche against other species of rodents, i.e., human buildings.