Atlantoxerus getulus (Linnaeus, 1758)
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6840226 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6818918 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/064D0660-FF84-ED79-FFDB-F5D7F825F099 |
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treatment provided by |
Diego |
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scientific name |
Atlantoxerus getulus |
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Barbary Ground Squirrel
Atlantoxerus getulus View in CoL
French: Ecureuil de Barbarie / German: Atlashérnchen / Spanish: Ardilla terrestre de Berberia
Other common names: North African Ground Squirrel
Taxonomy. Sciurus getulus Linnaeus, 1758 ,
“Africa.”
Restricted by O. Thomas in 1911
to “Barbary.”
This species is monotypic.
Distribution. Endemic to the Atlas Mts in NW Africa, occurring through Western Sahara, Morocco, and NW Algeria. Introduced on the Canary Is of Spain, Fuerteventura in 1965, Gran Canaria in 1996, and Lanzarote in 2006; only the first population has evaded eradication.
Descriptive notes. Head-body 174 mm, tail 133 mm; weight 250 g. The Barbary Ground Squirrel is medium-sized, with brown dorsum and white or light buff stripe on sides. Occasionally, faint pale midline is apparent. Head and shoulders are grizzled. Venter has low density of white hair and can appear to be without hair. Tail is prominent and bushy. Chromosomal complement is 2n = 38 and FN = 68.
Habitat. Rocky open areas in desert, alpine meadows, and argan (Argania spinosa, Sapotaceae) forests across the Atlas Mountains and Sahara Desert in Morocco and Algeria at elevations of 150-4000 m. Where introduced on the Canary Islands, the Barbary Ground Squirrel occurs in rocky semiarid scrub and forests.
Food and Feeding. The Barbary Ground Squirrel is an opportunistic omnivore that feeds heavily on fruits, flowers, and seeds of aridland herbs and shrubs such as spurge (Euphorbia, Euphorbiaceae), mustard trees (Nicotiana glauca, Solanaceae), and lesser jack (Emex spinosa, Polygonaceae). It will also eat insects and terrestrial snails when available. It can be an agricultural pest when it consumes food crops such as asparagus, paddle cactus (Opuntia, Cactaceae), plums, and cereal crops.
Breeding. Female Barbary Ground Squirrels are pregnant in April in eastern Morocco, March in the Atlas Mountains, and February in Western Sahara. Their breeding season generally lasts a month. Several males often pursue one female. Males call repeatedly from stone promontories within their home range apparently to attract females and guard their home range;feces collect around these promontories. Females spend considerable amounts of time in and around burrows while they care for their young, and they can often be seen in groups perhaps sharing nests. Females come into estrus every four months and can produce up to three litters each year. Young are precocial but remain in nests for 5-6 weeks after birth.
Activity patterns. The Barbary Ground Squirrel is diurnal. Activity is bimodal, with peaks in morning and afternoon, but is reduced in winter; behavioral patterns are related to temperature oscillations of their environment. Adults appear to share sentinel duties and rotate from their position on stone structures to monitor threats.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Barbary Ground Squirrel is colonial and often forms large loose aggregations that display conspicuous, widespread, and continuous vigilance for predators. Individuals quickly enter a burrow when a predator is detected. Family groups of a single female and her offspring form the fundamental social unit. Pairs of females often share burrows and will use walls and stone structures to sunbathe and nest. They communicate with each other by vocalizing.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Barbary Ground Squirrelis widespread, occursin a variety of habitats (including disturbed habitats), and is common wherever it occurs. It has been introduced outside of its distribution (Fuerteventura, Canary Islands), where it has become a pest. Population trends are stable, and no particular threats have been identified.
Bibliography. Aulagnier et al. (2013), Bertolino (2009), Calabuig (1999), Gangoso et al. (2006), Gouat & Yahyaoui (2001), Linnaeus (1758), Lopez-Darias (2006), Lépez-Darias & Lobo (2008), Lépez-Darias & Nogales (2008), Lorenzo-Morales et al. (2007), Machado & Dominguez (1982), Nogales, Nieves et al. (2005), Nogales, Rodriguez-Luengo & Marrero (2006), Petter & Saint-Girons (1965), Purroy & Varela (2003), Thomas (1911c¢), Thorington et al. (2012), Valverde (1957), Werneret al. (2005).
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.
