Unstriped ground squirrel

The unstriped ground squirrel (Xerus rutilus) is a species of rodent (order Rodentia) in the family Sciuridae. It is found in Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are dry savanna and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.

Unstriped ground squirrel
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Genus: Xerus
Species:
X. rutilus
Binomial name
Xerus rutilus
(Cretzschmar, 1828)

Description

The unstriped ground squirrel is brownish or tawny in color with a lighter colored front. As the name suggests the X. rutilus differs from other species of African ground squirrel by not having dorsal-running longitudinal white stripes. The eye is ringed with white hair (all hair being coarse in observed specimens). Their small head and body measure on average 225.8 millimetres (8.89 in) long with an average tail length of 172 mm (6.8 in). This tail is flat in appearance. Body weight varies across studies and habitats and ranges from 257.7 to 420 grams (9.09 to 14.82 oz).[2][3] The length of the hind foot is 35–49 mm with a braincase measuring only 24–25 mm. The length of the mandible is variable in the range of 31.0 to 33.9 mm.[3][4]

Xerus rutilus is a member of the Xerini tribe, but differs from its sister group Xerus daamsi.[5] Both are separate and distinct from the North African equivalent Atlantoxerus.[5] Vibrissae (whiskers) length and brain size are both smaller than arboreal squirrels of the region, but are similar to other terrestrial squirrels.[3]

No significant sexual dimorphism is noted in X. rutilus.

Local and indigenous names

In Tigrinya language: ምጹጽላይ or ጨጨራ (mitsutsilay, chechera).[6] In Somali Dabagaale

Ecology

Range and habitat

The unstriped ground squirrel is endemic to Ethiopia,[6] Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Djibouti, Eritrea and Uganda and probably extant in Somalia.[7] Its natural habitats include dry (arid) savanna and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland. Populations occupy many overlapping regions with its sister group, the striped ground squirrel (X. erythropus), in northeastern Africa.[8] X. rutilus dig and occupy burrows in generally arid conditions.[3]

Diet and foraging

The unstriped ground squirrels demonstrate diurnality[3] with an omnivorous diet consisting of leaves, tree fruits (Adansonia digital), seeds (Commiphora and Acacia trees), other plant materials, and insects.[3] Studies[9] show that X. rutilus is unaffected by poisonous tannins and to some degree eats oxalic-containing foods. X. rutilus has been shown to be uniquely efficient in its capacity to forage for food. This ability is not diminished across a variety of different environments, including those with a poor to moderate food supply.[9]

Behavior

Burrows

X. rutilus are mainly solitary. They live in burrow systems with one or two adults with overlapping home areas. In times of danger unstriped ground squirrel may dive into a foreign burrow for safety. Unstriped ground squirrels permit non-resident squirrels to enter their burrows, including those of other species (X. erythropus).[3] They spend most of their waking hours outside their burrows, but utilize them for sleep and shelter from the elements. They move around quite often during the day, but remain sedentary.[10][11]

Dominance hierarchy

Although not territorial, a dominance hierarchy exists with male squirrels being dominant over females and younger squirrels. X. rutilus demonstrate dominance via vocalization, tail displays, and physical lunges.[3][10][11]

Physiology

Thermoregulation

Unstriped ground squirrels generally reside in hot arid conditions and compensate by exhibiting behavioral thermoregulation. After periods of foraging in hot areas, they retreat to the shade and lie down on the shaded ground to cool off.[3][10][11]

References
  1. Grubb, P. & Oguge, N. (2008). "Xerus rutilus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008. Retrieved 8 January 2009.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  2. Coe, M. 1972. The South Turkana expedition. Scientific papers IX. Ecological studies of the small mammals of South Turkana. Geographical Journal, 138: 316–338.
  3. O'Shea, T. J. (1991). "Xerus rutilus". Mammalian Species. 370 (370): 1–5. doi:10.2307/3504277. JSTOR 3504277.
  4. Michaux, J.; Hautier, L.; Simonin, T.; Vianey-Liaud, M. (2008). "Phylogeny, adaptation and mandible shape in Sciuridae (Rodentia, Mammalia)". Mammalia. 72 (4): 286–296. doi:10.1515/mamm.2008.049. S2CID 84441705.
  5. Denys, C.; Viriot, L.; Daams, R.; Pelaez-Campomanes, P.; Vignaud, P.; Andossa, L.; Brunet, M. (2003). "A new Pliocene Xerine sciurid (Rodentia) from Kossom Bougoudi, Chad". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 23 (3): 676–687. doi:10.1671/2311. S2CID 86163438.
  6. Aerts, Raf (2019). Forest and woodland vegetation in the highlands of Dogu'a Tembien. In: Nyssen J., Jacob, M., Frankl, A. (Eds.). Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains - The Dogu'a Tembien District. SpringerNature. ISBN 978-3-030-04954-6. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  7. "Xerus rutilus". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). 2008.
  8. Herron, M. D.; Waterman, J. M.; Parkinson, C. L. (2005). "Phylogeny and historical biogeography of African ground squirrels: the role of climate change in the evolution of Xerus". Molecular Ecology. 14 (9): 2773–2788. doi:10.1111/j.1365-294X.2005.02630.x. PMID 16029477. S2CID 35874572.
  9. Ecological factors affecting the foraging behaviour of Xerus rutilus. (2010). African Zoology, 45(2), 265–272.
  10. Hubert, B (1978). "Modern rodent fauna of the Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia". Bulletin of Carnegie Museum of Natural History. 6: 109–112.
  11. Martin, G (1986). "Small mammals of arid savanna and montane sites in northern Kenya". Journal of Arid Environments. 11 (2): 173–180. doi:10.1016/S0140-1963(18)31228-X.

Sources
  • Thorington, R. W. Jr. and R. S. Hoffman. 2005. Family Sciuridae. pp. 754–818 in Mammal Species of the World a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder eds. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.
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