Mountain ground squirrel

Introduction: The mountain ground squirrel (Xerus princeps) is a rock-dwelling ground squirrel and its warren is usually situated on rocky hillsides or among rocky outcrops. These are in contrast to the open flat country preferred by the ground squirrel. They also live in warrens and, like rock dassies, take shelter under boulders when alarmed. It is also known as the Kaoko Ground Squirrel. They appear after sunrise until before sunset in single burrows - much less complicated than the ground squirrel.

In appearance the mountain squirrel differs from the ground squirrel:

In its proportionally larger eye orbits.
Yellow coloured incisor teeth.
The 3 black bands on the long tail hairs.

The ground squirrel:

Has white teeth.
And 2 black bands on the tail hairs.

Distribution: From the Fish River Canyon northwards, following the western escarpment of Namibia right up to Kaokoland.

Diet: Mountain ground squirrels prefer foods such as roots, bulbs, green sprouting plants, as well as acacia seeds. They are known to scale 2m high into bushes in order to harvest green leaves, berries and mopane plant lice.

Colouring: Similar in appearance to the ground squirre,l with a white strip from the shoulder towards the rump. It has a long bushy black and white tail.

Breeding: These squirrels give birth to an average of 3 young per litter after a gestation period of 48 days, normally during the mid-summer months.

Size: Both male and female weigh around 1.4kg and are larger in size than the ground squirrel.