Nature Atlas

How Nature Works
Sign In
Text size
100%
Theme

Switch Atlas

Taxa

Xerus

Mammal Genera

Xerus, in its current taxonomic sense, is a genus of rodent in the squirrel family Sciuridae containing a single species, the unstriped ground squirrel. It is found in Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, in dry savanna and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland. It is brownish or tawny in color with a lighter colored front, and unlike related African ground squirrel species it lacks dorsal running longitudinal white stripes. Its tail is flat, and its body measures around 226 millimeters with a weight of 258 to 420 grams.

Facts
Taxonomic Rank
Genus 2
Member Count Band
Under 10 Species 3
Era First Appeared
Neogene 4
Classification
Living or Extinct
Yes 1
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Djibouti

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Eritrea

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Ethiopia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Kenya

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Somalia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Sudan

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Tanzania

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Uganda

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Sources
1. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ284816, descriptionView the Source
2. Xerus (Wikipedia)
  • Introduction
    The unstriped ground squirrel (Xerus rutilus) is a species of rodent (order Rodentia) in the family Sciuridae.
  • Taxonomic rank (structure-wave classification, ruling 761/926)
View the Source
3. Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank): Taxon metrics for Xerus
Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank)Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCount
Quote, Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCount
"speciesExtantCount": 4
View the Source
4. Paleobiology Database: Taxon record for Xerus
Paleobiology DatabaseTaxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)
Quote, Taxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)
"taxon_name": "Xerus" ... "firstapp_max_ma": 16.9 ... "early_interval": "Burdigalian"
View the Source
Wikidata: Xerus
Wikidata Q1763595, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.