Mammals · Rodentia · Sciuridae

South African Ground Squirrel

Xerus inauris

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The South African ground squirrel is a social rodent of the arid plains of southern Africa. It does not climb trees: it lives in colonies that dig shared burrow systems, often with meerkats and yellow mongooses as neighbours. It feeds on bulbs, roots, seeds and some insects. Its most recognisable habit is the use of its bushy tail as a parasol: it spreads it over its back and head to shade itself while foraging under the Kalahari sun.

Weight

400 g – 1 kg

Size

20 cm – 29 cm

Lifespan

11 years

Diet

Herbivore

Feeds mainly on plants.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Colony

Lives in large concentrations, often for breeding reasons.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

DesertGrasslandHerbivore Diurnal Colonial Desert Grassland Mammal

43countries 18parks22same family

Fun facts

It uses its tail as a parasol: it fans it out over its back and angles it according to the position of the sun, which lets it carry on foraging above ground when the surface is over fifty degrees.
It shares burrows with meerkats and yellow mongooses: the three species live together in the same tunnel system and make mutual use of one another's alarm calls against raptors and jackals.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Arid plains on hard ground, semi-desert and scrub of the Kalahari and the Karoo
Sexual maturity: 12 months
Gestation / incubation: 45 days
Litter / clutch size: 2.2 (average)

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerus_inauris