Home range, social behavior, and dominance relationships in the African unstriped ground squirrel, Xerus rutilus
Journal of Mammalogy
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Abstract
A field study of home range, social behavior, and dominance relationships in the African unstriped ground squirrel, Xerus rutilus, was conducted in semi-arid bushland near Kibwezi, Kenya. Ground squirrels lived alone or in small groups in isolated burrow systems and had broadly overlapping home ranges. They were neither territorial or colonial. Home ranges were estimated by visual observation of marked animals and those of males were considerably larger (mean=7.01 hectares (ha); n=4) than those of females (mean=1.37 ha; n-6). A continuum of agonistic behavior ranging from threat to combat is described, although actual combat was rarely observed. Sexual behavior includes a stereotypical tail display by adult males. Dominance relationships, based on 542 observed encounters between marked individuals, include a consistent male dominance over females and a fairly constant linear hierarchy among all individuals with shared home ranges. Similarities in the behavior of African ground squirrels and tree squirrels (Sciurus) are discussed.
Suggested Citation
O'Shea, T., 1976, Home range, social behavior, and dominance relationships in the African unstriped ground squirrel, Xerus rutilus: Journal of Mammalogy, v. 57, no. 3, p. 450-460, https://doi.org/10.2307/1379295.
ISSN: 1545-1542 (online)
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Home range, social behavior, and dominance relationships in the African unstriped ground squirrel, Xerus rutilus |
| Series title | Journal of Mammalogy |
| DOI | 10.2307/1379295 |
| Volume | 57 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Year Published | 1976 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | American Society of Mammalogists |
| Publisher location | Provo, UT |
| Description | 11 p. |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | Journal of Mammalogy |
| First page | 450 |
| Last page | 460 |