Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Cladus: Synapsida
Cladus: Eupelycosauria
Cladus: Sphenacodontia
Cladus: Sphenacodontoidea
Cladus: Therapsida
Cladus: Theriodontia
Subordo: Cynodontia
Infraordo: Eucynodontia
Cladus: Probainognathia
Cladus: Prozostrodontia
Cladus: Mammaliaformes
Classis: Mammalia
Subclassis: Trechnotheria
Infraclassis: Zatheria
Supercohors: Theria
Cohors: Eutheria
Infraclassis: Placentalia
Cladus: Boreoeutheria
Superordo: Euarchontoglires
Ordo: Rodentia
Subordo: Sciuromorpha
Familia: Sciuridae
Subfamilia: Xerinae
Tribus: Xerini
Genus: Atlantoxerus
Species: Atlantoxerus getulus
Name
Atlantoxerus getulus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Original combination: Sciurus getulus
Type locality: Agadir, Morocco
References
Linnaeus, C. 1758. Systema Naturae per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis, Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata. Holmiæ: impensis direct. Laurentii Salvii. i–ii, 1–824 pp DOI: 10.5962/bhl.title.542: 64. Reference page.
Atlantoxerus getulus in Mammal Species of the World.
Wilson, Don E. & Reeder, DeeAnn M. (Editors) 2005. Mammal Species of the World – A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Third edition. ISBN 0-8018-8221-4.
Vernacular names
العربية: سنجاب بربري
català: Esquirol terrestre de Barbaria
Deutsch: Atlashörnchen
English: Barbary Ground Squirrel
español: Ardilla moruna
فارسی: سنجاب زمینی بربری
français: Écureuil de Barbarie
Frysk: Barbarijsk grûniikhoarntsje
日本語: バーバリージリス
Nederlands: Barbarijse grondeekhoorn
norsk: Berberjordekorn
occitan: Atlantoxerus
polski: Berberyjka marokańska
português: Atlantoxerus
русский: Магрибская белка
svenska: Nordafrikansk borstekorre
Tiếng Việt: Sóc đất Barbary
walon: Spirou d' l' Atlasse
中文: 旱地松鼠屬
The Barbary ground squirrel (Atlantoxerus getulus) is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. It is monotypic within the genus Atlantoxerus.[3] It is endemic to the Atlas mountains in Morocco and some parts in Algeria, and has been introduced into the Canary Islands. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, temperate grassland and rocky areas where it lives colonially in burrows. It was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his landmark 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae.
Description
The Barbary ground squirrel is a small species growing to a length of between 160 and 220 millimetres (6.3 and 8.7 in) with a bushy tail of a similar length. It weighs up to 350 grams (12 oz) and has short wiry hair. The general colour is greyish-brown or reddish-brown and there is a white stripe running along each side, and sometimes another along the spine. The belly is paler grey and the tail is longitudinally barred in black and grey.[3][4]
Distribution
The Barbary ground squirrel is found on the Barbary Coast of Western Sahara, Morocco and Algeria on the seaward side of the Atlas Mountains and was introduced into the island of Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands in 1965.[1] It is the only species of squirrel to inhabit Africa north of the Sahara barring a small population of striped ground squirrel in southern Morocco.[3] Its habitat is arid rocky ground and it is found in mountainous regions up to an altitude of about 4,000 metres (13,000 ft).[3]
Biology
The Barbary ground squirrel is a colonial animal and lives in family groups in burrows in dry grassland, bushy and rocky areas including disturbed agricultural land, or in dens among rocks. It needs access to water but is not found in irrigated fields. It tends to come out to feed early in the morning and again in the evening, retreating into its burrow during the heat of the day. It feeds on plant material and a major part of its diet is the fruit and seeds of the argan tree (Argania spinosa). If the population builds up and food is scarce, the Barbary ground squirrel may migrate.[1][3] The females give birth to litters of up to four young, twice a year.[1]
Status
The population of the Barbary ground squirrel is believed to be stable and it is common over its range up to elevations of 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) but is more widely dispersed at higher altitudes. It is also less common at the eastern end of its range. It is listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as being of "least concern".[1]
Gallery
Barbary ground squirrel perched on rocky outcrop near Essaouira
Barbary ground squirrel perched on rocky outcrop near Essaouira
1820 illustration of the Barbary squirrel
1820 illustration of the Barbary squirrel
References
Aulagnier, S. (2008). "Atlantoxerus getulus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
Forsynth Major, C. J. (1893). "On some Miocene Squirrels, with Remarks on the Dentition and Classification of the Sciurinæ". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 1893: 179–215. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1893.tb00559.x.
Scott J. Steppan & Shawn M. Hamm (2000). "Atlantoxerus". Tree of Life Web Project. Retrieved 2013-02-14.
Thorington, R. W. Jr. and R. S. Hoffman. 2005. Family Sciuridae. pp. 754–818 in Mammal Species of the World a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder eds. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore
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