View source for Unstriped ground squirrel

{{Short description|Species of rodent}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Unstriped ground squirrel
| image = Xerus rutilus.jpg
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name=iucn>{{cite iucn|author=Grubb, P.|author2=Oguge, N.|name-list-style=amp|year=2008|url=https://www.iucnredlist.org/details/23147/0|title=''Xerus rutilus''|access-date=8 January 2009}}</ref>
| parent_authority = [[Wilhelm Hemprich|Hemprich]] & [[Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg|Ehrenberg]], 1833
| display_parents = 2
| genus = Xerus
| species = rutilus
| authority = ([[Philipp Jakob Cretzschmar|Cretzschmar]], 1828)
| synonyms = 
}}

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'''''. It is found in [[Djibouti]], [[Eritrea]], [[Ethiopia]], [[Kenya]], [[Somalia]], [[Sudan]], [[Tanzania]], and [[Uganda]]. Its natural [[habitat]]s are dry [[savanna]] and subtropical or tropical dry [[shrubland]].

==Description==

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 [[dorsum (anatomy)|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 {{convert|225.8|mm}} long with an average tail length of {{convert|172|mm|abbr=on}}. This tail is flat in appearance. Body weight varies across studies and habitats and ranges from {{convert|257.7|to|420|g}}.<ref>Coe, M. 1972. The South Turkana expedition. Scientific papers IX. Ecological studies of the small mammals of South Turkana. Geographical Journal, 138: 316–338.</ref><ref name="OShea1991">{{cite journal | last1 = O'Shea | first1 = T. J. | year = 1991 | title = Xerus rutilus | journal = Mammalian Species | issue = 370| pages = 1–5 | doi = 10.2307/3504277 | jstor = 3504277 | doi-access = free }}</ref> The length of the hind foot is 35–49&nbsp;mm with a braincase measuring only 24–25&nbsp;mm.
The length of the mandible is variable in the range of 31.0 to 33.9&nbsp;mm.<ref name= "OShea1991"/><ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Michaux | first1 = J. | last2 = Hautier | first2 = L. | last3 = Simonin | first3 = T. | last4 = Vianey-Liaud | first4 = M. | year = 2008 | title = Phylogeny, adaptation and mandible shape in Sciuridae (Rodentia, Mammalia) | journal = Mammalia | volume = 72 | issue = 4| pages = 286–296 | doi=10.1515/mamm.2008.049| s2cid = 84441705 }}</ref>

''Xerus rutilus'' is a member of the Xerini tribe, but differs from its sister group ''[[Xerus daamsi]]''.<ref name=denys>{{cite journal | last1 = Denys | first1 = C. | last2 = Viriot | first2 = L. | last3 = Daams | first3 = R. | last4 = Pelaez-Campomanes | first4 = P. | last5 = Vignaud | first5 = P. | last6 = Andossa | first6 = L. | last7 = Brunet | first7 = M. | year = 2003 | title = A new Pliocene Xerine sciurid (Rodentia) from Kossom Bougoudi, Chad | journal = Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology | volume = 23 | issue = 3| pages = 676–687 | doi=10.1671/2311| s2cid = 86163438 }}</ref> Both are separate and distinct from the North African equivalent ''[[Atlantoxerus]]''.<ref name= "denys"/> [[Vibrissae]] (whiskers) length and brain size are both smaller than arboreal [[squirrels]] of the region, but are similar to other [[terrestrial animal|terrestrial]] squirrels.<ref name= "OShea1991"/>

No significant [[sexual dimorphism]] is noted in ''X. rutilus''.

==Local and indigenous names==
In [[Tigrinya language]]: {{lang|ti|ምጹጽላይ}} or {{lang|ti|ጨጨራ}} (mitsutsilay, chechera).<ref name= "Aerts2019">{{cite book |last1=Aerts |first1=Raf |title=Forest and woodland vegetation in the highlands of Dogu'a Tembien. In: Nyssen J., Jacob, M., Frankl, A. (Eds.). Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains - The Dogu'a Tembien District |date=2019 |publisher=SpringerNature |isbn=978-3-030-04954-6 |url=https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030049546 |access-date=18 June 2019}}</ref>

In [[Turkana language|Turkana]]: {{IPA|tuv|ekuɲuk|}}, borrowed further in [[Daasanach language|Daasanach]]: {{IPA|dsh|ɲékuɲug|}}<ref>{{cite book|first=Mauro|last=Tosco|title=The Dhaasanac Language|year=2001|publisher=Rudiger Köppe|location=Köln|page=576}}</ref>

==Ecology==

===Range and habitat===

The unstriped ground squirrel is endemic to Ethiopia,<ref name= "Aerts2019"/> Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Djibouti, Eritrea and Uganda and probably extant in Somalia.<ref>{{Cite journal|year=2008|title=Xerus rutilus|journal=The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species|publisher=IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Herron | first1 = M. D. | last2 = Waterman | first2 = J. M. | last3 = Parkinson | first3 = C. L. | year = 2005 | 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 | doi = 10.1111/j.1365-294X.2005.02630.x | pmid=16029477| s2cid = 35874572 }}</ref>
''X. rutilus'' dig and occupy [[burrow]]s in generally arid conditions.<ref name="OShea1991"/>

===Diet and foraging===

The unstriped ground squirrels demonstrate [[diurnality]]<ref name= "OShea1991"/> with an omnivorous diet consisting of leaves, tree fruits (Adansonia digital), seeds (Commiphora and Acacia trees), other plant materials, and insects.<ref name= "OShea1991"/> Studies<ref name= "azoo"/> 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.<ref name="azoo">Ecological factors affecting the foraging behaviour of Xerus rutilus. (2010). African Zoology, 45(2), 265–272.</ref>

==Behavior==

===Burrows===

''X. rutilus'' are mainly [[Solitary animal|solitary]]. They live in burrow systems with one or two adults with overlapping home areas. In times of danger unstriped ground squirrel may dive into a foreign burrow for safety. Unstriped ground squirrels permit non-resident squirrels to enter their burrows, including those of other species (''[[Xerus erythropus|X. erythropus]]'').<ref name= "OShea1991"/> They spend most of their waking hours outside their burrows, but utilize them for sleep and shelter from the elements. They move around quite often during the day, but remain [[sedentary]].<ref name=hubert>{{cite journal | last1 = Hubert | first1 = B | year = 1978 | title = Modern rodent fauna of the Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia | journal = Bulletin of Carnegie Museum of Natural History | volume = 6 | pages = 109–112 }}</ref><ref name=Martin>{{cite journal | last1 = Martin | first1 = G | year = 1986 | title = Small mammals of arid savanna and montane sites in northern Kenya | journal = Journal of Arid Environments | volume = 11 | issue = 2| pages = 173–180 | doi = 10.1016/S0140-1963(18)31228-X | bibcode = 1986JArEn..11..173M }}</ref>

===Dominance hierarchy===

Although not [[territory (animal)|territorial]], a [[dominance hierarchy]] exists with male squirrels being [[wikt:dominant|dominant]] over females and younger squirrels. ''X. rutilus'' demonstrate dominance via [[Animal communication|vocalization]], tail displays, and physical lunges.<ref name= "OShea1991"/><ref name= "hubert"/><ref name= "Martin"/>

==Physiology==

===Thermoregulation===

Unstriped ground squirrels generally reside in hot [[arid]] conditions and compensate by exhibiting behavioral [[thermoregulation]]. After periods of foraging in hot areas, they retreat to the shade and lie down on the shaded ground to cool off.<ref name= "OShea1991"/><ref name= "hubert"/><ref name= "Martin"/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
{{Commons|Xerus rutilus}}
* Thorington, R. W. Jr. and R. S. Hoffman. 2005. Family Sciuridae. pp.&nbsp;754–818 ''in'' ''Mammal Species of the World a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference''. D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder eds. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.

{{S. Xerinae nav}}
{{Sciuromorpha|state=collapsed}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1763595|from2=Q284816}}

[[Category:Xerini]]
[[Category:Mammals described in 1828]]
[[Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Philipp Jakob Cretzschmar]]