Bristle cone
| Bristle cone | ||||||||||||
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Plain bristle squirrel ( Xerus rutilus ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Xerini | ||||||||||||
| Osborn , 1910 |
The bristle squirrels (Xerini) are a tribe of squirrels , which includes three genera:
- Atlas squirrel ( Atlantoxerus )
- African ground squirrel ( Xerus )
- Ground Squirrel ( Spermophilopsis )
The eponymous feature is their hair, which is stiff and bristly; bare skin sometimes shines through between the hair. There are predominantly earth-dwelling species that are assigned to the subfamily of the gophers .
A close relationship with the Protoxerini , which has since been discarded, is now again considered likely, although the bristle squirrels have more original features than other tribes. The long-doubted affiliation of the ground squirrel to this tribe is supported by genetic analyzes, as is the group's monophyly.
literature
- Michael D. Carleton, Guy G. Musser: Order Rodentia. In: Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Eds.): Mammal Species of the World. A taxonomic and geographic Reference. Volume 2, 3rd edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 , pp. 745-1600.
Web links
Commons : Bristle Squirrel ( Xerini ) - Collection of images, videos, and audio files
