Unstriped Ground Squirrel (Xerus rutilus) lives in open savanna across Sub-Saharan Africa. It feeds on seeds and fruits. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Unstriped Ground Squirrel
- 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). Body weight varies across studies and habitats and ranges from 257.7 to 420 grams (9.09 to 14.82 oz). Unstriped ground squirrels are the smallest ground squirrels in the genus Xerus, weighing between 260 and 420 g, and measuring 200 to 255 mm in head and body length with a 120 to 225 mm long tail.
- Their map stretches across eight countries. It is found in Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. They have been recorded at elevations ranging from sea level to approximately 2000 meters. The species also appears in the region encompassed by Sudan, Tanzania and Somalia. Such a broad footprint shows how the squirrel can thrive in everything from flat savanna to rocky lava-gravel flats.
- Even poisonous plant chemicals don't slow them down. Studies 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. Coe (1972) indicates that more than 50 percent of their diet is dry seeds and leaves.
- 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. There is a dominance hierarchy, with males dominant over females and juveniles.
- They sit at the center of a predator-rich food web and can even carry disease. The main predators of unstriped ground squirrels have been described for the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary, Tsavo West National Park, Kenya. They include avian raptors, including tawny eagles ( Aquila rapax ), bateleurs ( Terathopius ecaudatus ), martial eagles ( Polemaetus bellicosus ), as well as mammalian predators including leopards ( Panthera pardus ) and black-backed jackals ( Canis mesomelas ). Leishmania aethiopica, which causes both simple cutaneous and diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis in humans, has been isolated from X. rutilus. Density estimates in Turkana, Kenya, reaching 848 individuals per square kilometer highlight their abundance and potential as a disease reservoir.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeSub-Saharan Africa
HabitatOpen savanna
DietSeeds and fruits
About the Unstriped Ground Squirrel
In the sun-baked savannas, the unstriped ground squirrel darts with reckless abandon, its tawny fur blending seamlessly into the rust-hued landscape as it scurries in search of succulent roots and seeds. With an air of perpetual urgency, it zigzags across the dusty terrain, its bushy tail twitching like a metronome as it navigates the intricate network of burrows and tunnels that crisscross its underground realm. As it pauses to survey its surroundings, its bright, inquisitive eyes shine like polished onyx, radiating a sense of irrepressible vitality.
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