Unstriped ground squirrel
Kingdom
Phylum
Subphylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Xerus rutilus
Weight
260-420
9.2-14.8
goz
g oz 
Length
200-255
7.9-10
mminch
mm inch 

The unstriped ground squirrel (Xerus rutilus ) is a species of rodent (order Rodentia) in the family Sciuridae. It is the only member of the genus Xerus not to have a stripe. 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.

Local and indigenous names

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

Di

Diurnal

Fr

Frugivore

Gr

Granivore

He

Herbivore

Fo

Fossorial

Te

Terrestrial

So

Solitary

Do

Dominance hierarchy

No

Not a migrant

U

starts with

Appearance

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). 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.

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

No significant sexual dimorphism is noted in X. rutilus.

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Distribution

Geography

The unstriped ground squirrel is endemic to Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Djibouti, Eritrea and Uganda and probably extant in Somalia. 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.X. rutilus dig and occupy burrows in generally arid conditions.

Climate zones

Habits and Lifestyle

Seasonal behavior

Diet and Nutrition

The unstriped ground squirrels demonstrate diurnality with an omnivorous diet consisting of leaves, tree fruits (Adansonia digital), seeds (Commiphora and Acacia trees), other plant materials, and insects. 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. This ability is not diminished across a variety of different environments, including those with a poor to moderate food supply.

Mating Habits

BABY CARRYING
1 to 2

References

1. Unstriped ground squirrel Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unstriped_ground_squirrel
2. Unstriped ground squirrel on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/23147/115167688

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