Xerus inauris 205to 40 ha; males have larger home ranges than females and
may travel farther in a single day (3 km). The squirrels scent-
mark their home ranges by rubbing their cheek glands on
rocks and trees. Although they bury their urine, the animals
defecate aboveground near burrow entrances. Burrow
structure is elementary and focused around a central den
lined with grass and twigs. The shallow (less than 1 m deep)
tunnel system contains one to three entrances, as well as
several “pop holes” that end slightly below the soil surface
and can be excavated quickly as emergency exits. At night
the squirrels block entrances with loose soil. Although the
animals frequent cultivated areas, burrows are rarely dug
near human disturbances. Those that are appear crudely
formed for temporary shelter while foraging; they consist of
only one or two entrances and contain food debris but no
bedding or other signs of nesting. In addition to burrows,
the squirrels utilize rock and tree-root crevices as well as
termite nests for refuge at night.
Striped ground squirrels typically move slowly, alternat-
ing short jumps with moments of stillness, during which they
sniff the ground or stand erect to survey their surroundings.
The tail is fl icked constantly; and it is raised vertically while
resting, arched behind the back when walking, and carried
horizontally when moving quickly with long leaps. If mildly
alarmed, the animal sits erect, extends its forelimbs, arches
its tail over its back, and extends the hairs of its tail. In intense
distress, the squirrel lowers its body to the ground and posi-
tions its tail close to its back. Juveniles often play by imitating
escapelike behaviors, rapidly jumping and alternating the di-
rection of movement. The striped ground squirrel emits in-
distinct “chatters” that resembles the vocalizations of other
squirrel species. Multiple males may pursue a single female in
a mating chase during the breeding season. Females give
birth to litters of two to six kittens.
The animals are recognized as a major agricultural pest,
damaging maize (corn), peanuts, yams, Gmelina seeds, young
bolls of cotton, sweet potatoes, cassava, Pinus caribaea sap-
lings, and the pods of legumes. Striped ground squirrels are
easily tamed as pets, and they have survived in captivity for
up to six years. They are bred for meat in Benin and have
nearly been domesticated, but they are also hunted in the
wild and eaten by humans. Natural predators include rap-
tors, servals (Felis serval) and other wild cats, jackals (Canis),
and snakes such as the puff adder (Bitis arietans). Wild striped
ground squirrels can serve as hosts for organisms causing
multiple zoonotic diseases, including ticks (Hyalomma, Orni-
thodoros), Bunyaviridae (Bhanja virus), nematodes (Gongylon-
ema), and trypanosomes (Tr y p an o s o m a x e r i). Their salivary
glands can contain rabies or Streptobacillus moniliformis (Hav-
er hill fever). Zoo populations have supported Gongylonema
macrogubernaculum.
general references: Angelici and Luiselli 2005; R. E. Bu-
chanan and Gibbons 1975; Coe 1972; Craig et al. 1998; Delany
1975; Delany and Happold 1979; Dorst and Dandelot 1970;
M. R. M. Ekué, pers. comm.; Ewer 1965, 1966, 1968; Herron
and Waterman 2004; Herron, Waterman, et al. 2005; Hoog-
straal 1955; Hopf et al. 1976; Hubálek 1987; G. E. Kemp et al.
1974; Key 1985, 1990a, 1990b; Kingdon 1974; Linn and Key
1996; Logan et al. 1993; Marinkelle and Abdalla 1978; O’Shea
1976; N. Robinson 1969; Rosevear 1969.Xerus inauris (Zimmermann, 1780)
South African Ground Squirreldescription: The South African ground squirrel is charac-
terized by white stripes that extend laterally from the shoul-
ders to the thighs, a faint white coloration around its large
eyes, small exterior ear fl aps, and a prominent white tail
that is dorsoventrally fl attened and marked by two black
bands near the base. The squirrel’s black skin is covered by
sandy brown or cinnamon-colored dorsal fur and a white
ventral pelage. The face, sides of the neck, and undersides of
the limbs are also white. The body hair is short on the back
and longer but sparser (sometimes even absent) on the belly.
X. inauris strongly resembles X. princeps in appearance, but
the latter is asocial and typically prefers mountainous ter-
rain with more rocky areas. The two species are sympatric
in some areas, and they sometimes burrow within close
proximity of one another.