African ground squirrel

Ground Squirrel ( Xerus sp.)

The African Ground Squirrel ( Xerus ) are a genus of soil- ground squirrels. Four of the six species of the tribe of Borstenhörnchen you belong to:

  • Simple Borstenhörnchen, Ungestreiftes Borstenhörnchen ( Xerus rutilus ), East Africa
  • Striped Ground Squirrel ( Xerus erythropus ), West and Central Africa
  • Cape Ground Squirrel ( Xerus inauris ), southern Africa
  • Kaokoland Ground Squirrel, Damara Ground Squirrel ( Xerus princeps), Angola, Namibia

The simplicity Borstenhörnchen is often assigned to a subgenus Xerus, the Striped Ground Squirrel Euxerus, and the remaining species are placed in the subgenus Geosciurus.

Features

As the name implies, Borstenhörnchen have a stiff, bristly fur that feels to the touch like hedgehog spines. The coat color is yellow -gray to gray-brown, the underside is whitish. Three of the species have a white stripe that is missing only the finishing Borstenhörnchen on each flank. The body length is depending on the type 20 to 45 cm, added 20 to 25 cm tail. The weight is 300 to 900 grams.

Way of life

African ground squirrel are inhabitants of open habitats, such as savannas, semi-deserts, rocky mountains or bush land with some trees. Here they live in self-dug diurnal construction. They form colonies that are likely to resemble those of the prairie dogs, but are not as well researched. A building which houses a croissant Association, may have up to one hundred outputs and features a 2000 m² extend. If an enemy is approaching and a member of this colony noticed this, there are loud warnings of himself, after all squirrels disappear in their construction. Among the numerous enemies of the Borstenhörnchen include raptors and mongooses.

The Meerkats, which are also potential hunters of the ground squirrel, sometimes share the burrows even with them. They protect the squirrels from predators such as snakes and take advantage of the prefabricated dwelling. Observations have shown that the Borstenhörnchen be spared in the event of such a living community of the meerkats.

At the Cape ground squirrel colony includes one to four females and many young. Males, an increasing only temporarily a colony and then move on. The defense of the building against conspecifics that do not belong to the association, is responsible for the females. The mating can take place at any time of year. After a gestation period of 48 days brings a female one to three young.

Food are all parts of plants, rare insects and bird eggs.

Human and ground squirrel

In South Africa, farmers keep Borstenhörnchen often for pests because they feed on cereals and crops. They are also potential carriers of rabies and other infectious diseases. Regional they are sometimes kept as pets.

33393
de