Barbary Ground Squirrel (Atlantoxerus getulus) lives in semi arid desert across Northwest Africa. It feeds on seeds and fruits. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Barbary Ground Squirrel
- The Barbary ground squirrel is one of only two squirrel species that live north of the Sahara, sharing this rare distinction with a tiny striped ground squirrel population in southern Morocco. It is endemic to the Atlas Mountains of Morocco and parts of Algeria, where it occupies dry shrubland, temperate grassland and rocky areas. Living colonially in burrows, it relies on these habitats for shelter and breeding, reinforcing its limited northern African range.
- Barbary ground squirrels can be found on rocky slopes as high as about 4,000 metres in the Atlas Mountains, preferring arid rocky ground in these high-altitude zones. Their range extends down to lower elevations where they are common up to 2,000 metres, after which they become more sparsely distributed. This altitude flexibility allows them to exploit both mountainous and lower-land habitats across Morocco and Algeria.
- The diet of the Barbary ground squirrel leans heavily on the fruit and seeds of the argan tree, Argania spinosa, which provide a vital food source in its arid environment. In addition to argan seeds, it also consumes other plant material such as grasses and leaves found in dry grassland and bushy areas. This reliance on seasonal argan crops influences its foraging patterns, prompting early-morning and evening feeding trips when the seeds are most available.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeNorthwest Africa
HabitatSemi arid desert
DietSeeds and fruits
About the Barbary Ground Squirrel
As the golden light of dawn creeps across the arid landscape, the Barbary Ground Squirrel stirs, its large, dark eyes blinking away the slumber as it emerges from its burrow to embark on a day of foraging and social intrigue. With a twitch of its bushy tail, it darts across the rocky terrain, its agile limbs a blur as it navigates the intricate network of tunnels and pathways that crisscross its desert domain. In this harsh yet beautiful environment, the Barbary Ground Squirrel reigns supreme, its remarkable adaptability and resilience allowing it to thrive in one of the most unforgiving corners of the natural world.
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