Xerus princeps 207group. Once weaned, the young are cared for equally by all
members of the female group. Females that successfully
wean their young reenter estrus 56 days after the emergence
of the litter, while females that lose their litters prematurely
come into estrus 24 days after the loss. Females may pro-
duce up to three litters each year. South African ground
squirrels are considered agricultural pests in some regions.
They can serve as hosts to nematode (Ascaridae) parasites.
general references: A. F. Bennett et al. 1984; Bouchie et
al. 2006; Herzig-Straschil 1978; Lynch 1983; A. C. Marsh et al.
1978; Nel 1975; Skinner and Chimimba 2005; Skurski and
Waterman 2005; Smithers 1971; Snyman 1940; Van Heerden
and Dauth 1987; Waterman 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002; I. F.
Zumpt 1968, 1970.
Xerus princeps (Thomas, 1929)
Damara Ground Squirrel
description: X. princeps is sympatric and similar in color-
ation to X. inauris, but it is slightly larger in size and appears
more grizzled than the latter species, due to the white-
tipped hairs on the head and the lateral hip region. The tail
is longer and features three black rings instead of two. The
incisor teeth are yellow or orange-colored, rather than
white as in X. inauris. The Damara ground squirrel’s pale
cinnamon brown dorsal coat and black skin contrast with
the white pelage of the belly and the medial surfaces of the
limbs, and the dorsal coat is marked by a white stripe run-
ning laterally from shoulder to thigh. The front of the face
is white, the eyes are ringed by white lines, and the pinnae
are small.
size: Both sexes—HB 225–290 mm; T 210–282 mm; Mass
636 g.
Subtle sexual dimorphism exists, with males slightly
larger.
distribution: The Damara ground squirrel is found from
southwest Angola through the western side of Namibia to
the northwestern edge of South Africa.
geographic variation: None.
conservation: IUCN status—least concern. Population
trend—stable.
habitat: This squirrel is restricted to the Nama Karoo and
Succulent Karoo biomes, where average annual rainfall
ranges from 125 to 250 mm. This species lives in arid areas
on rocky, hilly terrain with sparse vegetation.natural history: The Damara ground squirrel is diur-
nally active but sensitive to the extreme temperatures of its
habitat. During the summer, the animals typically leave
their burrows between 6:55 and 7:50 a.m. and return be-
tween 6:05 and 7:15 p.m., but they may leave later or return
earlier to avoid high temperatures or heavy rain. After
emerging from their burrows in the morning, individuals
spend 10–15 minutes grooming and basking in the sun. They
then depart from the burrow area to forage. They feed on
grass stems and roots, mopane tree leaves (Colophospermum
mopane, also referred to as Copaifera mopane), and plant lice.
Individuals live alone or in small family groups consisting
of two to four mothers with their young. Adult males are
solitary but regularly visit two to seven female groups to
mate. Gestation lasts 42–49 days and results in one to three
young per litter. The young open their eyes within 21 days
of birth. Social contact between individuals is generally
rare, and no cohesive behaviors—such as allogrooming,
playing, or aff ection—have been observed.
Damara ground squirrels build their burrows in rocky
areas with few trees and little bush cover, such as gravel
plains. Burrows are simple, composed of two to fi ve open-
ings and a single nest chamber with a fl oor located 67 cm
below the surface. They tend to dig entrances under piles of
stones or boulders, or beneath concrete slates near water
pumps. Although they avoid sandy soils, they occasionally
dig burrows on the plains and, in these instances, the en-