Atlantoxerus getulus 201accurately refl ect the behaviors of the squirrel in its native
range. The Barbary ground squirrel is an omnivore, with 75
percent of its diet consisting of plant matter. The animal fa-
vors spurge (Euphorbia), Atractylis, Mesembryanthemum, mus-
tard trees (Nicotiana glauca), Salsola vermiculata, lesser jack
(Emex spinosa), Scilla, and Asphodelus. It also consumes several
fruiting species—such as asparagus, Rubia, paddle cactus
(Opuntia), boxthorn (Lycium), and Prunus—and disperses
their seeds, perhaps even to the point of altering natural
patterns of distribution. An opportunistic species, the
Barbary ground squirrel feeds on crops when near a culti-
vated area. The animal occasionally consumes terrestrial
mollusks, but its abundance is not dependent on snail den-
sity in Fuerteventura.
Barbary ground squirrels display predator vigilance be-
haviors common to many species of colonial ground squir-
rels. Throughout the day, adults rotate in shifts of up to an
hour, lying on walls or other stone structures and monitor-
ing the area surrounding the colony for threats. During the
breeding season, males stand and call repeatedly from on
top of the tallest pile of stones, attempting both to attract
females and guard the region. These stone piles can be iden-
tifi ed by the feces that collect around them. The Barbary
ground squirrel’s most common predators in Fuerteven-
tura are housecats, Common Buzzards (Buteo buteo), Com-
mon Ravens (Corvus corax), and Common Kestrels (Falco
tinnunculus). The squirrels also utilize walls and stone struc-
tures for thermoregulation, nesting, and protection against
predators, entering their burrows when danger arises. Fe-
males spend a considerable amount of time in and around
burrows as they care for their young, and they can often be
seen in groups. Females come into estrus every four months
and can produce up to three litters each year. Juveniles re-
main in the nest for as long as 6 weeks after birth. Some
individuals within the Fuerteventuran and Moroccan popu-
lations of A. getulus have been identifi ed as carrying Acan-
thamoeba and helminth parasites (Brachylaima, Catenotaenia
chabaudi, Dermatoxys getula, Protospirura muricola, Syphacia
pallaryi, and Tr i c h o s t r o ng ylu s).general references: Bertolino 2009; Calabuig 1999;
Gangoso et al. 2006; Gouat and Yahyaoui 2001; Linnaeus
1758; López-Darias 2006; López-Darias and Lobo 2008; López-
Darias and Nogales 2008; Lorenzo-Morales et al. 2007; Ma-
chado and Domínguez 1982; Nogales, Nieves, et al. 2005; No-
gales, Rodríguez-Luengo, et al. 2006; Petter and Saint-Girons
1965; Purroy and Varela 2003; Valverde 1957; Werner et al.
2005.Atlantoxerus getulus. Photo courtesy Konstantin Simonov.