International Squirrel Appreciation Day - January 21st - African Cape Ground Squirrel (Xerus Geosciurus)

Central Kalahari Game Reserve
Northwest Botswana
Southern Africa

The animal holiday was supposed to be on January the 21st. I’m late.

A day to acknowledge the role that squirrels play in nature and the environment all over the world.

And some more information about these lovely critters - www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-day/squirrel-appreci...

African ground squirrels (genus Xerus) form a taxon of squirrels under the subfamily Xerinae. They are only found in Africa. There is another African ground squirrel of the genus Atlantoxerus, the Atlantoxerus getulus present in southwestern Morocco and northern Western Sahara. It is invasive in the Canary Islands since an introduction in 1971.

The squirrels live in open woodlands, grasslands, or rocky country. They are diurnal and terrestrial, living in burrows. Their diet is roots, seeds, fruits, pods, grains, insects, small vertebrates and bird eggs. They live in colonies similar to North American prairie dogs, and have similar behavior. Kept as pets, they run free as house cats do, otherwise farmers consider them pests.

The South African Ground Squirrel does not hibernate. These squirrels are very social and live in groups with about 1 to 3 females and 2 to 3 males. Sometimes, the number of males can exceed up to 9 with some sub-adult females. An interesting thing about this breed is that mature males like to form their own groups and there can be 19 to 20 individuals in one group. These groups are called bands.

Their home range is shared with other groups which is quite a surprising thing, since in case of most of the mammals there is generally an extremely tough competition to get the female. The group-living instinct of this species gives it a survival opportunity from predators outweighing the disadvantage of breeding opportunities which come from competition.
Wikipedia

Taken in: Botswana (show map)

Taken on: November 26, 2013

Tags:

Botswana2013

Squirrel Appreciation Week

Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Northwest Botswana

Southern Africa

Cape Ground Squirrel

Genus Xerus

Subfamily Xerinae

Only Found In Africa

Diurnal

Do Not Hibernate

Very Social

Territorial

Sue Roehl. Pentax K-3

Cropped

Sunrays+5

coth5 « less

Sets appears in: • Botswana Nov. 2013

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