Cape ground squirrels have black skin with a coat is 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. Each side of their body has a white stripe that stretches from the shoulders to the thighs. Cape ground squirrels ahve fairly large eyes and white lines around them. Their tail is flattened on the back and underside and is covered with white hair and 2 black bands at the base.
Di
DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
Om
OmnivoreAn omnivore is an animal that has the ability to eat and survive on both plant and animal matter. Obtaining energy and nutrients from plant and ani...
Te
TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
Al
AltricialAltricial animals are those species whose newly hatched or born young are relatively immobile. They lack hair or down, are not able to obtain food ...
Fo
FossorialA fossorial animal is one adapted to digging which lives primarily but not solely, underground. Some examples are badgers, naked mole-rats, clams, ...
Bu
BurrowingA burrow is a hole or tunnel excavated into the ground by an animal to create a space suitable for habitation, temporary refuge, or as a byproduct ...
Vi
ViviparousAmong animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
Po
PolygynandryPolygynandry is a mating system in which both males and females have multiple mating partners during a breeding season.
So
SocialDo
Dominance hierarchyA dominance hierarchy (formerly and colloquially called a pecking order) is a type of social hierarchy that arises when members of animal social gr...
No
Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
C
starts with
Cape ground squirrels live throughout southern Africa; through Botswana, South Africa and Namibia, including Etosha National Park. They inhabit central and southwestern Kalahari in Botswana. In South Africa, they can be found in central and north-central areas. Cape ground squirrels live mainly in arid or semiarid areas. They prefer to live in velds and grasslands with hard ground. They can also be found in scrub along pans, on floodplains and in agricultural areas.
Cape ground squirrels are diurnal and do not hibernate. They are burrowing animals that dig and live in clusters of burrows. Burrows protect them from extreme temperatures and from predators. These animals spend around 70% of they day feeding, 15-20% being vigilant and around 10% socializing. Cape ground squirrels live in groups of 2-3 adult females, up to 9 sub-adults of either sex and with the females’ offspring. Groups that have more than 3 females split into smaller groups. Adult males live separately from females and only join to breed. Males groups number up to 19 individuals who are not related and are not agonistic. Cape ground squirrels communicate with each another vocally. When threatened, they will emit a whistle-like call as an alarm call which comes in two forms; the short by shrill "bi-jo" which signal serious danger, and a medium-pitched "bi-joo" sound which is used for lesser dangers. During agonistic encounters, squirrels emit deep growls as signs of aggression. Juveniles make play calls, nest-chirpings, and protest squeaks.
Cape ground squirrels are omnivorous. They eat bulbs, fruits, grasses, herbs, insects and shrubs.
Cape ground squirrels are polygynandrous (promiscuous). This means that both males and females have multiple partners during a breeding season. The breeding season lasts year-round. Females give birth to 1-3 pups after the gestation period that lasts around 42-49 days. Young are born altricial, hairless and blind. A lactating female isolates herself in a separate burrow to care for her young but she returns to her group after weaning or if her litter is lost for some reason. 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, young can eat solid food. Lactation ends at around 52 days. Males reach reproductive maturity at eight months and leave their natal groups while females mature at 10 months and remain in their groups.
There are no major threats to Cape ground squirrels at present. However, in some areas, they are persecuted as an agricultural pest. In addition, humans have used poisonous grass to control ground squirrels due to crop damage and rabies.
According to IUCN, the Cape ground squirrel is locally common and widespread throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are stable.
Cape ground squirrels play an important role when digging burrows. Their burrows are used by meerkats and yellow mongooses as protection from predators and from cold temperatures. Cape ground squirrels also have another relationship with meerkats as their alarm calls warn squirrels of potential danger from predators. In turn, Cape ground squirrels provide meerkats burrows for shelter.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...