mountain ground squirrel
{{Short description|Species of rodent}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Mountain ground squirrel
| image = Damara_ground_squirrel.jpg
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| genus = Geosciurus
| species = princeps
| authority = (Thomas, 1929)
| synonyms = Xerus princeps
}}
The mountain ground squirrel (Geosciurus princeps){{Cite web|title=Geosciurus princeps O. Thomas, 1929 {{!}} Damara Ground Squirrel|url=https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1001836/|access-date=2021-08-17|website=www.mammaldiversity.org}} is a rodent that is native to southwestern Angola, western Namibia, and western South Africa.{{cite journal |vauthors=Waterman JM, Herron MD |title=Xerus princeps |journal=Mammalian Species|volume=751 |pages=1–3 |year=2004 |doi=10.1644/751|doi-access=free }} It is also known as the Kaoko ground squirrel or the Damara ground squirrel.
It is the closest relative of the Cape ground squirrel{{cite journal |vauthors=Herron MD, Waterman JM, Parkinson CL |title=Phylogeny and historical biogeography of African ground squirrels: the role of climate change in the evolution of Xerus |journal=Molecular Ecology|volume=14 |issue=9 |pages=2773–2788 |year=2005 |pmid=16029477 |doi=10.1111/j.1365-294X.2005.02630.x|s2cid=35874572 }} (Latin name Geosciurus inauris), which is so similar in appearance that the two are difficult to distinguish in the field.{{cite journal |vauthors=Herzig-Straschil B, Herzig A |title=Biology of Xerus princeps (Rodentia, Sciuridae) |journal=Madoqua|volume=16|pages=41–46 |year=1989}} Both species have long bushy black and white tails with a white stripe from the shoulder towards the rump. Geosciurus princeps is slightly larger, on average, than G. inauris, although there is considerable overlap in body size. Differences in skull morphology also distinguish the two species,{{cite journal |vauthors=Herzig-Straschil B, Herzig A, Winkler H |title=A morphometric analysis of the skulls of Xerus inauris and Xerus princeps (Rodentia; Sciuridae) |journal=Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde|volume=56|pages=177–187 |year=1991}} and the incisors are yellow to orange rather than white as in G. inauris.
Distribution
The mountain ground squirrel is restricted to a narrow band of the southwest arid region of Africa from southern Angola to southern Namibia and as far south as Richtersveld National Park.
Description
The mountain ground squirrel is a large-bodied squirrel with small ears. The total length of head and body measures {{cvt|23|to|29|cm|in|1}},{{cite book|author=de Graaf, G|title=The Rodents of Southern Africa |publisher=Butterworths|location=Durban, South Africa|year=1981|isbn=978-0-409-09829-7}}{{cite book|author=Shortridge, RV|title=The Rodents of South West Africa |publisher=Heinemann|location=London|year=1934}} tail length from {{cvt|21|to|28|cm|in|1}}, and weight ranges from {{convert|490|to|710|g|lb|1}}. The body is covered in short, pale cinnamon brown hair, which changes to white on the belly, around the eyes, and on the front of the face. A white stripe extends from shoulders to hips. There is no underfur, and the skin is black. Tail hairs are white with three black stripes.{{cite journal |author=Thomas, O|title=On mammals from the Kaoko-Veld, south-west Africa, obtained during Captain Shortridge's fifth Percy Sladen and Kaffrarian Museum expedition|journal=Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London|volume=106 |pages=99–111|year=1929|doi=10.1111/j.1469-7998.1929.tb07691.x}}
Behavior
Mountain ground squirrels are strictly diurnal. Adult females may live alone or in small family groups, while males are mostly solitary. In contrast to the Cape Ground Squirrel, they are not known to exhibit play behaviors, allogrooming, or other social behaviors. They build burrows in areas with sparse cover. In the daytime, they may range up to {{cvt|1|km|mi|1}} from the home burrow in search of food.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.krugerpark.co.za/africa_mountain_ground_squirrel.html Kruger Park page on the Mountain Ground Squirrel]
- [https://www.uniprot.org/taxonomy/327506 Uniprot taxonomy page on Geosciurus princeps]
- {{MSW3 Sciuridae}}
{{S. Xerinae nav}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1765019}}
Category:Mammals of South Africa
Category:Mammals described in 1929