African ground squirrels are rodents in the family Sciuridae, the squirrel family. As their name suggests, the African ground squirrels are terrestrial (ground-dwelling).
Like their North American cousins the marmots and prairie dogs, African ground squirrels are burrowing animals. Four of the five African ground squirrel species are in the genus Xerus: the striped ground squirrel; Cape ground squirrel / South African ground squirrel; mountain ground squirrel / Damara ground squirrel; and unstriped ground squirrel. The fifth ground squirrel found in Africa is the Barbary ground squirrel.
African ground squirrels typically live in arid (dry), rocky or grassland habitats. They live in colonies and are active during the day. They are omnivorous, with diets typically consisting of plant matter such as bulbs, fruit, grasses and herbs, together with insects, eggs, and small animals.
African ground squirrels may feed on crops, and are seen as pests in some regions. Predators of African ground squirrels include puff adders, monitor lizards, jackals and birds of prey.
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African Ground Squirrel Species
Striped Ground Squirrel
- Scientific name: Xerus erythropus
- Conservation status: Least Concern
A relatively large species, the striped ground squirrel has a body length of between 22 and 29 cm (8.7 and 11.4 in.). Its tail is almost as long again. It is predominantly sandy-brown in color and has pale underparts. A distinctive pale stripe runs from the shoulder to the hip along either side of the body.
The striped ground squirrel has a large range, being found across Africa south of the Sahara Desert and north of the equatorial rainforests.
The Striped ground squirrel is an African rodent, having 6 sub-species. The coloration of this large ground squirrel is sandy-brown or dark-brown overall and white on the under-parts. The animal also exhibits a white lateral stripe.
These squirrels are terrestrial foragers and their diet usually consists of seeds, nuts and roots. They tend to hoard excess food under stones. Mature individuals may live either solitarily or in pairs. The natural range of striped ground squirrels extends throughout the central parts of Africa, except for the Horn of Africa.
These rodents are generally found south of the Sahara and north of the tropical rainforest; from the Atlantic coast eastwards to Ethiopia and Kenya. Preferred habitats of this species are open or disturbed forest, savannah country as well as areas near agricultural land.
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Striped ground squirrels are mainly terrestrial and diurnal animals. The peak of activity occurs at dusk and down, although the animals are known to look for shelter during the hottest period of the day in their burrows or shady areas. These rodents are highly social animals, forming groups of 6 - 10, sometimes up to 30, individuals.
These are generally female groups, since males tend to be solitary, socializing only during the reproductive season. When not mating, they simply move between groups. The striped ground squirrels spend much of their time sunbathing, foraging and storing food as well as communicating and socializing through a wide variety of vocalizations.
These rodents have a polygynous mating system, where one male mates with a number of females. They breed throughout the year. Males emit chirping and chattering sounds in order to attract receptive females. Meanwhile, breeding is synchronized among females of a given group. A litter of 3 young is produced after a gestation period of 64 - 78 days.
Newborn young are cared by their mother, whereas the father takes no part in rearing its offspring. Classified as Least Concern, striped ground squirrels currently don't face any serious threats, although in some states of West Africa (at a smaller scale - in Kenya) these animals are hunted for food.
According to IUCN, the Striped ground squirrel is common, widespread and sometimes abundant throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. These trustful animals are not afraid of humans.
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Cape Ground Squirrel / South African Ground Squirrel
- Scientific name: Xerus inauris
- Conservation status: Least Concern
The Cape ground squirrel is also known as the South African ground squirrel. It is found in dry grassland habitats in Botswana, South Africa and Namibia.
With a total body-tail length of around 42.4 to 47.6 cm (16.7 to 18.7 in), the Cape ground squirrel is smaller than the striped ground squirrel. The Cape ground squirrel is red-brown in color, with paler undersides and face. A thin white line runs from the shoulder to the hip on each side of the body.
A colony of Cape ground squirrels responds to the presence of a snake with mobbing behavior: several squirrels rush at the predator while using their bushy tails to block it. When the predator strikes back, all the squirrels back off. This is often enough to drive the predator away.
South African Xerus Ground Squirrels (Xerus inauris), also known as Cape ground squirrels, are small, diurnal mammals that are native to South Africa. They are found in a variety of habitats, including savannas, woodlands, and scrublands. This habitat range includes the Kalahari Desert.
Adult South African ground squirrels typically weigh up to 650g. South African ground squirrels are social animals, living in colonies of up to 100 individuals. They are active during the day and spend their nights in underground burrows.
They have a strong hierarchical social structure, with dominant individuals having first access to food and mates. South African ground squirrels in the Kalahari have several adaptations to survive in the harsh conditions of the desert, such as reduced water loss, and their diet is less water dependent than other food sources. When sensing danger, ground squirrels emit a whistle-like vocalization as a warning signal.
This warning can come in two forms; a sharp, high-pitched “bi-jo” which indicates a severe threat and a moderate-pitched “bi-joo” sound which is used for less pressing dangers. During hostile encounters, squirrels produce deep, guttural noises as expressions of hostility.
South African ground squirrels are omnivores, and their diet consists of a variety of plants and insects. This diet consists mainly of roots, bulbs, and seeds, which are less water-dependent than other food sources, although they get sufficient moisture from these food sources and thus, do not need to drink water.
South African ground squirrels breed throughout the year, but peak breeding occurs in the spring and summer. Gestation period is around 42 - 49 days. Litters typically consist of 1 - 3 pups. Pups are born blind and hairless and are dependent on their mother for the first several weeks of their life.
Habitat loss due to human development and agriculture is a major threat to South African ground squirrels. They are also hunted by predators such as snakes and birds of prey. South African ground squirrels are not considered to be threatened at this time.
However, their population has decreased in some areas due to habitat loss and poisoning of grasses and crops to prevent loss and the spread of rabies. South African squirrels, like many other ground squirrels, have a unique characteristic of having highly variable testicular size.
Male South African ground squirrels have testicles that are proportionally larger than any other mammal of their body size. This is likely due to the intense competition for mates and the need for high sperm production. The testicles of a male South African ground squirrel can account for up to 3% of their body weight, which is proportionally larger than any other mammal on earth.
This variation in testicular size is not only limited to South African squirrels, but also seen in other ground squirrels as well as some other rodents. This characteristic is thought to be an adaptation to intense competition for mating opportunities, as larger testicles are associated with higher sperm production and greater reproductive success.
Moreover, testicles size in South African squirrels can also vary seasonally, increasing in size during the breeding season. This is thought to be an adaptation to ensure that males have the highest possible sperm count when mating opportunities are most abundant.
It has black skin with a coat made of short stiff hairs without underfur. The fur is cinnamon on the back while the face, underbelly, sides of neck and ventral sides of limbs are white. The sides of its body each have a white stripe that stretches from the shoulders to the thighs. The eyes are fairly large and have white lines around them. The pinnae are small.
The tail is flattened on the back and underside and is covered with white hair and two black bands at the base. The Cape ground's sexual dimorphism is subtle. Males usually weigh 423-649 grams (0.933-1.431 lb), 8 to 12 percent more than females at 444-600 grams (0.979-1.323 lb).
Male Cape ground squirrels have a total length of 424-476 millimetres (16.7-18.7 in), while females are 435-446 millimetres (17.1-17.6 in) long. The belly and groin area of the females each have two pairs of mammary glands.
Cape ground squirrels live mainly in arid or semiarid areas. They prefer to live in veld and grasslands with hard ground. They can also be found in scrub along pans, on floodplains and in agricultural areas.
Ground squirrel are generally active during the day and do not hibernate. They are burrowing animals that dig and live in clusters of burrows averaging around 700 square metres (7,500 sq ft) with 2-100 entrances. Burrows serve to protect the squirrel from extreme temperatures at the surface as well as predators. Nevertheless, most of the day is spent feeding at the surface.
Squirrels shade their head and back with their bushy tails, which was originally thought to be important for thermoregulation. The burrows of Cape ground squirrels are also used by meerkats and yellow mongooses. While Cape ground squirrels and meerkats appear to have a mutual relationship, mongoose and squirrel relations appear to be more commensal.
Ground squirrels may be able to scent the differences in the dropping of predators and non-predators. Cape ground squirrels live in groups of two to three adult females and a maximum of nine sub-adults of either sex as well as the females' dependent offspring. Groups that have more than three females split into smaller groups.
Adult males live separately from females and only join when the females are in estrus. Male groups number up to 19 unrelated individuals, which are not agonistic. Within a male group, four to five males may form temporary subgroups that change size and members each day.
Female groups live in separate burrow clusters. A female group's home range is c. 4 hectares (9.9 acres) with core areas of around 0.25 hectares (0.62 acres). Home ranges can overlap. Core areas are defended by agonistic behaviour. Male groups live in home ranges envelop those of several female groups and average 12.1 hectares (30 acres).
Within a female group there is no dominance hierarchy, and members use the same feeding and sleeping ranges. Male groups, by contrast, live in ages-based linear hierarchies. Competition between males usually takes the form of leaping displays that cause no injuries. Unlike female groups, male groups are not territorial, and membership is very open.
During oestrus, a female will be approached, solicited and chased by males trying to mate with her. The most dominant males get the first matings. A female will mate with the same male several times. Cape ground squirrel mate and reproduce year-round but mating occurs mostly in dry winter months.
Since females copulate with multiple males, the males' large testes are useful for sperm competition. After copulation, males will masturbate, which could serve to keep the genitals clean and reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections. In groups, only one female at a time enters oestrus which lasts around three hours. Gestation lasts around 48 days or 42-49 days. Lactation begins not long before the pups are born.
A lactating female isolates herself in a separate burrow to care for their young but she returns to her group after weaning or if her litter is lost for some reason. There are 1-3 pups in a litter. They are born altricial, hairless and blind. The pups stay in the burrows for their first 45 days. By 35 days, the eyes are open. Seven days after emerging from the burrows, the pups can eat solid food. Lactation ends at around 52 days. Males reach sexual maturity at eight months while female mature at 10 months. The Cape ground squirrels populations does not seem to be threatened overall.
Mountain Ground Squirrel / Damara Ground Squirrel
- Scientific name: Xerus princeps
- Conservation status: Least Concern
The mountain ground squirrel is closely related to the Cape ground squirrel. In fact, the two species are so similar that it can be different to tell them apart. The mountain ground squirrel is slightly larger on average, and its incisors are yellow-orange rather than white.
The species is found in savanna and shrubland in Namibia and Angola. It inhabits mountainous or hilly areas with sparse vegetation. The mountain ground squirrel is less social than the Cape ground squirrel, with males often being solitary, and females living either alone or in small family groups.
Unstriped Ground Squirrel
- Scientific name: Xerus rutilus
- Conservation status: Least Concern
The unstriped ground squirrel is found several east African countries, including Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya. Typical habitat for the species is dry savanna and shrubland.
As its name suggests, the unstriped ground squirrel is the only member of the genus Xerus not to have a line running along its flanks.
Barbary Ground Squirrel
- Scientific name: Atlantoxerus getulus
- Conservation status: Least Concern
The Barbary ground squirrel is found further north than other African ground squirrels, being present in Algeria, Morocco and Western Sahara (a small population of striped ground squirrels is also present in Morocco). The species has also been introduced to the Canary Islands.
The species is red-brown in color, with a distinctive white stripe running along each side. The undersides and face are white / gray.
The Barbary ground squirrel is active during the day, but will retreat into its burrow when the sun is at its hottest.
Other Notable Squirrels in Africa
African Pygmy Squirrel
And the title for world’s smallest known squirrel goes to the African pygmy squirrel. These tiny squirrels can be found in western and central Africa. They prefer tropical rainforests.
The African pygmy squirrel is so small it can fit in the palm of your hand; with room to spare. Due to their stable numbers, these squirrels are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.
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