Barbary ground squirrel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barbary ground squirrelTemporal range: Early Miocene - Recent
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The Barbary ground squirrel (Atlantoxerus getulus) is a type of rodent that belongs to the squirrel family. It's the only species in its group, Atlantoxerus. These squirrels live naturally in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco and parts of Algeria. They have also been brought to the Canary Islands. They like to live in dry, rocky areas, grasslands, and bushy places. They live together in groups in burrows. The famous scientist Carl Linnaeus first described this squirrel in 1758.
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What Does It Look Like?
The Barbary ground squirrel is a small animal. It grows to be about 16 to 22 centimeters (6 to 9 inches) long. Its bushy tail is usually about the same length as its body. This squirrel weighs up to 350 grams (about 12 ounces).
It has short, stiff hair. Its fur is usually greyish-brown or reddish-brown. You can spot it by the white stripe running along each side of its body. Sometimes, there's another white stripe along its back. Its belly is a lighter grey color. The tail has black and grey stripes running lengthwise.
Where Do They Live?
The Barbary ground squirrel lives along the Barbary Coast. This area includes Western Sahara, Morocco, and Algeria. They are found on the side of the Atlas Mountains that faces the sea. In 1965, some were brought to the island of Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands.
This squirrel is special because it's the only type of squirrel living in Africa north of the Sahara desert. There's a small group of striped ground squirrels in southern Morocco, but the Barbary ground squirrel is unique to the north. They prefer dry, rocky areas, especially in mountains. You can find them at high altitudes, up to about 4,000 meters (13,000 feet) above sea level.
How Do They Live?
Barbary ground squirrels are social animals. They live in family groups in burrows. These burrows are found in dry grasslands, bushy areas, and rocky places. They can even live in disturbed farm fields or dens among rocks. They need to be near water, but they don't live in watered farm fields.
These squirrels usually come out to find food early in the morning. They also feed again in the evening. During the hottest part of the day, they go back into their burrows to stay cool. They eat plants, and a big part of their diet is the fruit and seeds from the argan tree. If there are too many squirrels and not enough food, they might move to a new area. Female squirrels can have up to four babies at a time, and they usually have two litters of young each year.
What Is Their Status?
The number of Barbary ground squirrels is thought to be steady. They are common in most of their natural range, especially up to about 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) in elevation. They are less common at higher altitudes and towards the eastern part of their range. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species lists them as "least concern". This means they are not currently in danger of disappearing.
Gallery
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Barbary ground squirrel perched on rocky outcrop near Essaouira
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1820 illustration of the Barbary squirrel
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See also
In Spanish: Ardilla moruna para niños
