{{Short description|Species of rodent}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}} {{Speciesbox | name = Mountain ground squirrel | image = Damara_ground_squirrel.jpg | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name=iucn>{{cite iucn |author=Cassola, F. |year=2016 |errata=2017 |title=''Xerus princeps'' |volume=2016 |article-number=e.T23146A115167567 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T23146A22252968.en |access-date=4 June 2025}}</ref> | genus = Geosciurus | species = princeps | authority = (Thomas, 1929) | synonyms = ''Xerus princeps'' }}
The '''mountain ground squirrel''' ('''''Geosciurus princeps''''')<ref>{{Cite web|title=''Geosciurus princeps'' O. Thomas, 1929 {{!}} Damara Ground Squirrel|url=https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1001836/|access-date=2021-08-17|website=www.mammaldiversity.org}}</ref> is a rodent that is native to southwestern Angola, western Namibia, and western South Africa.<ref name=Waterman2004>{{cite journal |vauthors=Waterman JM, Herron MD |title=''Xerus princeps'' |journal=Mammalian Species|volume=751 |pages=1–3 |year=2004 |doi=10.1644/751|doi-access=free }}</ref> It is also known as the '''Kaoko ground squirrel''' or the '''Damara ground squirrel'''.
It is the closest relative of the Cape ground squirrel<ref name=Herron2005>{{cite journal |vauthors=Herron MD, Waterman JM, Parkinson CL |title=Phylogeny and historical biogeography of African ground squirrels: the role of climate change in the evolution of ''Xerus'' |journal=Molecular Ecology|volume=14 |issue=9 |pages=2773–2788 |year=2005 |pmid=16029477 |doi=10.1111/j.1365-294X.2005.02630.x|bibcode=2005MolEc..14.2773H |s2cid=35874572 }}</ref> (Latin name ''Geosciurus inauris''), which is so similar in appearance that the two are difficult to distinguish in the field.<ref name=Herzig-Straschil1989>{{cite journal |vauthors=Herzig-Straschil B, Herzig A |title=Biology of ''Xerus princeps'' (Rodentia, Sciuridae) |journal=Madoqua|volume=16|pages=41–46 |year=1989}}</ref> Both species have long bushy black and white tails with a white stripe from the shoulder towards the rump. ''Geosciurus princeps'' is slightly larger, on average, than ''G. inauris'', although there is considerable overlap in body size. Differences in skull morphology also distinguish the two species,<ref name=Herzig-Straschil1991>{{cite journal |vauthors=Herzig-Straschil B, Herzig A, Winkler H |title=A morphometric analysis of the skulls of ''Xerus inauris'' and ''Xerus princeps'' (Rodentia; Sciuridae) |journal=Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde|volume=56|pages=177–187 |year=1991}}</ref> and the incisors are yellow to orange rather than white as in ''G. inauris''.<ref name=Herzig-Straschil1991/><ref name=Thomas1929/>
==Distribution== The mountain ground squirrel is restricted to a narrow band of the southwest arid region of Africa from southern Angola to southern Namibia and as far south as Richtersveld National Park.<ref name=Herzig-Straschil1989/>
==Description== The mountain ground squirrel is a large-bodied squirrel with small ears. The total length of head and body measures {{cvt|23|to|29|cm|in|1}},<ref name=deGraaf1981>{{cite book|author=de Graaf, G|title=The Rodents of Southern Africa |publisher=Butterworths|location=Durban, South Africa|year=1981|isbn=978-0-409-09829-7}}</ref><ref name=Shortridge1934>{{cite book|author=Shortridge, RV|title=The Rodents of South West Africa |publisher=Heinemann|location=London|year=1934}}</ref> tail length from {{cvt|21|to|28|cm|in|1}},<ref name=deGraaf1981/><ref name=Shortridge1934/> and weight ranges from {{convert|490|to|710|g|lb|1}}.<ref name=Waterman2004/> The body is covered in short, pale cinnamon brown hair, which changes to white on the belly, around the eyes, and on the front of the face. A white stripe extends from shoulders to hips. There is no underfur, and the skin is black. Tail hairs are white with three black stripes.<ref name=Thomas1929>{{cite journal |author=Thomas, O|title=On mammals from the Kaoko-Veld, south-west Africa, obtained during Captain Shortridge's fifth Percy Sladen and Kaffrarian Museum expedition|journal=Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London|volume=106 |pages=99–111|year=1929|doi=10.1111/j.1469-7998.1929.tb07691.x}}</ref>
==Behavior== Mountain ground squirrels are strictly diurnal. Adult females may live alone or in small family groups, while males are mostly solitary.<ref name=Herzig-Straschil1989/> In contrast to the Cape Ground Squirrel, they are not known to exhibit play behaviors, allogrooming, or other social behaviors.<ref name=Herzig-Straschil1989/> They build burrows in areas with sparse cover. In the daytime, they may range up to {{cvt|1|km|mi|1}} from the home burrow in search of food.<ref name=Herzig-Straschil1989/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.krugerpark.co.za/africa_mountain_ground_squirrel.html Kruger Park page on the Mountain Ground Squirrel] * [https://www.uniprot.org/taxonomy/327506 Uniprot taxonomy page on ''Geosciurus princeps''] *{{MSW3 Sciuridae}}
{{S. Xerinae nav}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q1765019}}
Category:Geosciurus Category:Mammals of Angola Category:Mammals of Namibia Category:Mammals of South Africa Category:Mammals described in 1929 Category:Taxa named by Oldfield Thomas Category:Taxobox binomials not recognized by IUCN <!-- Geosciurus princeps -->