Familia Sciuridae 1
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Factors Affecting Invasive Species Abundance: the Barbary Ground Squirrel on Fuerteventura Island, Spain Marta López-Darias1,* and Jorge M
Zoological Studies 47(3): 268-281 (2008) Factors Affecting Invasive Species Abundance: the Barbary Ground Squirrel on Fuerteventura Island, Spain Marta López-Darias1,* and Jorge M. Lobo2 1Departamento de Biología Aplicada, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Pabellón del Perú, Avenida María Luisa s/n, Sevilla, E-41013, Spain 2Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), Calle José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, Madrid, E-28006, Spain. E-mail:[email protected] (Accepted November 14, 2007) Marta López-Darias and Jorge M. Lobo (2008) Factors affecting invasive species abundance: the Barbary ground squirrel on Fuerteventura Island, Spain. Zoological Studies 47(3): 268-281. We assessed the determinants of habitat selection by the Barbary ground squirrel (Atlantoxerus getulus) at Fuerteventura (Canary Is., Spain). We implemented general linear model (GLM) procedures to analyze the relationships between squirrel abundances and 4 kinds of variables related to the biological requirements of the species (environment, food resources, biotic interactions, and refuge/shelter). We performed a variance partitioning analysis between the most explicative categories to explore correlation patterns. The time of year and weather conditions of the census clearly influenced the number of individuals observed. Shelter variables were the best correlates of both the abundance of squirrels and the number of their scat. Although food resources were less important, the presence of certain plant species was correlated with squirrel abundance, while general environmental variables and interactions with other mammals did not affect its distribution. These results improve our understanding of the ecology and the establishment of this highly successful introduced species, providing basic knowledge for use with future management strategies in the Canarian Archipelago. -
A Review of Bristly Ground Squirrels Xerini and a Generic Revision in the African Genus Xerus
Mammalia 2016; 80(5): 521–540 Boris Kryštufek*, Ahmad Mahmoudi, Alexey S. Tesakov, Jan Matějů and Rainer Hutterer A review of bristly ground squirrels Xerini and a generic revision in the African genus Xerus DOI 10.1515/mammalia-2015-0073 Received April 28, 2015; accepted October 13, 2015; previously Introduction published online December 12, 2015 Bristly ground squirrels from the arid regions of Central Abstract: Bristly ground squirrels Xerini are a small rodent Asia and Africa constitute a coherent monophyletic tribe tribe of six extant species. Despite a dense fossil record the Xerini sensu Moore (1959). The tribe contains six species group was never diverse. Our phylogenetic reconstruction, in three genera of which Atlantoxerus and Spermophilop based on the analysis of cytochrome b gene and including sis are monotypic. The genus Xerus in its present scope all known species of Xerini, confirms a deep divergence (Thorington and Hoffmann 2005), consists of four species between the African taxa and the Asiatic Spermophilopsis. in three subgenera: X. inauris and X. princeps (subgenus Genetic divergences among the African Xerini were of a Geosciurus), X. rutilus (subgenus Xerus), and X. eryth comparable magnitude to those among genera of Holarc- ropus (subgenus Euxerus). Recent phylogenetic recon- tic ground squirrels in the subtribe Spermophilina. Evi- struction based on molecular markers retrieved Xerus to dent disparity in criteria applied in delimitation of genera be paraphyletic with respect to Atlantoxerus (Fabre et al. in Sciuridae induced us to recognize two genera formerly 2012), therefore challenging the suitability of the generic incorporated into Xerus. The resurrected genera (Euxerus arrangement of the group. -
Observations on Behavior of Barbary Ground Squirrel
34 Rev Rom Med Vet (2016) 26 | 1: 34-40 ORIGINAL SCIENTIFIC WORKS | LUCRĂRI ORIGINALE OBSERVATIONS ON BEHAVIOR OF BARBARY GROUND SQUIRREL (ATLANTOXERUS GETULUS) HELD IN CAPTIVITY OBSERVAŢII ASUPRA COMPORTAMENTULUI VEVERIŢEI MAROCANE (ATLANTOXERUS GETULUS) CRESCUTĂ ÎN CAPTIVITATE Mala Maria STAVRESCU-BEDIVAN1), P. B. MATEI2), B. GEORGESCU3) The aim of this article is to present some biological Scopul acestui articol este acela de a prezenta and ethological aspects regarding the Barbary ground unele aspecte de biologie şi etologie privind veveriţa squirrel held in captivity for study. marocană crescută în captivitate pentru studiu. Two pairs of Atlantoxerus getulus (Linnaeus, Două perechi de Atlantoxerus getulus (Linnaeus, 1758) were bought from a petshop in Rabat, Morrocco 1758) au fost achiziţionate dintr-un petshop din Ra- to the end of the scientific expedition Merzouga (April- bat, Maroc, la sfârşitul expediţiei ştiinţifice Merzouga May 2013), by the second author of the present study, (aprilie-mai 2013), de către al doilea autor al pre- a person with a rich background in animal keeping. zentului studiu, o persoană cu o bogată experienţă în The four squirreles were habituated as pets in a space creşterea animalelor. Cele patru veveriţe au fost cres- which respects, in accordance to a laboratory, all tech- cute ca animale de companie într-un spaţiu ce respec- nical, bioethical and sanitary standards required for tă, întocmai ca un laborator, toate normativele tehni- raising animals in captivity. There were observed the ce, bioetice şi sanitare impuse pentru creşterea ani- defining behavioral patterns (e.g. feeding, resting, malelor în captivitate. Au fost observate tipurile com- grooming), for constructing the ethogram in Barbary portamentale definitorii (de exemplu, hrănire, odihnă, ground squirrel. -
Facts and Misconceptions on the Palaearctic Existence of the Striped
Mammalia 2017; aop Boris Kryštufek, Cătălin Stanciu, Danijel Ivajnšič*, Sidi Imad Cherkaoui and Franc Janžekovič Facts and misconceptions on the Palaearctic existence of the striped ground squirrel https://doi.org/10.1515/mammalia-2017-0060 echo the exclusive ecological requirements of species Received May 26, 2017; accepted July 27, 2017 and their evolutionary history in response to past eco- logical and geological processes (Lomolino et al. 2006). Abstract: The striped ground squirrel has a wide distri- Species’ ranges can be studied at various temporal and bution in the Ethiopian region but is restricted to a small spatial scales provided they are already documented. isolated area in Palaearctic Africa. This fragment was first Before a distributional map can be produced, data on recorded in the late 1940s in the Souss Valley (Morocco), spatial occurrence must be collected in the field. Despite however, not a single new observation has been published its obvious simplicity, field work constitutes a crucial step in the following decades. In September 2016 we surveyed and affects the consistency of analyses which may depend the Souss Valley and found squirrels at 43 sites within upon sophisticated tools and concepts. Incomplete or the triangle between Agadir–Taroudant–Tiznit. Occupied misleading distributional data will unavoidably compro- sites were not distributed at random but occurred between mise subsequent analyses and assessments. an altitude of 45–254 m and on a substrate with coarse tex- In this study we have addressed the only Palaearctic ture containing >65% sand. The vast majority of the sites occurrence of the striped ground squirrel Euxerus with squirrels (69%) were classified as suburban, culti- erythropus (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire 1803) (formerly Xerus vated or both. -
Sciurid Phylogeny and the Paraphyly of Holarctic Ground Squirrels (Spermophilus)
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 31 (2004) 1015–1030 www.elsevier.com/locate/ympev Sciurid phylogeny and the paraphyly of Holarctic ground squirrels (Spermophilus) Matthew D. Herron, Todd A. Castoe, and Christopher L. Parkinson* Department of Biology, University of Central Florida, 4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando, FL 32816-2368, USA Received 26 May 2003; revised 11 September 2003 Abstract The squirrel family, Sciuridae, is one of the largest and most widely dispersed families of mammals. In spite of the wide dis- tribution and conspicuousness of this group, phylogenetic relationships remain poorly understood. We used DNA sequence data from the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene of 114 species in 21 genera to infer phylogenetic relationships among sciurids based on maximum parsimony and Bayesian phylogenetic methods. Although we evaluated more complex alternative models of nucleotide substitution to reconstruct Bayesian phylogenies, none provided a better fit to the data than the GTR + G + I model. We used the reconstructed phylogenies to evaluate the current taxonomy of the Sciuridae. At essentially all levels of relationships, we found the phylogeny of squirrels to be in substantial conflict with the current taxonomy. At the highest level, the flying squirrels do not represent a basal divergence, and the current division of Sciuridae into two subfamilies is therefore not phylogenetically informative. At the tribal level, the Neotropical pygmy squirrel, Sciurillus, represents a basal divergence and is not closely related to the other members of the tribe Sciurini. At the genus level, the sciurine genus Sciurus is paraphyletic with respect to the dwarf squirrels (Microsciurus), and the Holarctic ground squirrels (Spermophilus) are paraphyletic with respect to antelope squirrels (Ammosper- mophilus), prairie dogs (Cynomys), and marmots (Marmota). -
A Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis
Mesoamerican tree squirrels evolution (Rodentia: Sciuridae): a molecular phylogenetic analysis Federico Villalobos1,2* & Gustavo Gutierrez-Espeleta3 1. Laboratorio de Genética Evolutiva, Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica, Heredia, Costa Rica. 2. Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica; [email protected] 3. Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica; [email protected] * Correspondence Received 22-VII-2013. Corrected 13-I-2014. Accepted 23-I-2014. Abstract: The tribe Sciurini comprehends the genera Sciurus, Syntheosiurus, Microsciurus, Tamiasciurus and Rheinthrosciurus. The phylogenetic relationships within Sciurus have been only partially done, and the relation- ship between Mesoamerican species remains unsolved. The phylogenetic relationships of the Mesoamerican tree squirrels were examined using molecular data. Sequence data publicly available (12S, 16S, CYTB mitochondrial genes and IRBP nuclear gene) and cytochrome B gene sequences of four previously not sampled Mesoamerican Sciurus species were analyzed under a Bayesian multispecies coalescence model. Phylogenetic analysis of the multilocus data set showed the neotropical tree squirrels as a monophyletic clade. The genus Sciurus was para- phyletic due to the inclusion of Microsciurus species (M. alfari and M. flaviventer). The South American species S. aestuans and S. stramineus showed a sister taxa relationship. Single locus analysis based on the most compact and complete data set (i.e. CYTB gene sequences), supported the monophyly of the South American species and recovered a Mesoamerican clade including S. aureogaster, S. granatensis and S. variegatoides. These results corroborated previous findings based on cladistic analysis of cranial and post-cranial characters. -
Nuclear DNA Phylogeny of the Squirrels (Mammalia: Rodentia) and the Evolution of Arboreality from C-Myc and RAG1
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 30 (2004) 703–719 www.elsevier.com/locate/ympev Nuclear DNA phylogeny of the squirrels (Mammalia: Rodentia) and the evolution of arboreality from c-myc and RAG1 Scott J. Steppan,a,* Brian L. Storz,a and Robert S. Hoffmannb a Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1100, USA b Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, MRC-108, Washington, DC 20560, USA Received 24 February 2003; revised 15 May 2003 Abstract Although the family Sciuridae is large and well known, phylogenetic analyses are scarce. We report on a comprehensive mo- lecular phylogeny for the family. Two nuclear genes (c-myc and RAG1) comprising approximately 4500 bp of data (most in exons) are applied for the first time to rodent phylogenetics. Parsimony, likelihood, and Bayesian analyses of the separate gene regions and combined data reveal five major lineages and refute the conventional elevation of the flying squirrels (Pteromyinae) to subfamily status. Instead, flying squirrels are derived from one of the tree squirrel lineages. C-myc indels corroborate the sequence-based topologies. The common ancestor of extant squirrels appears to have been arboreal, confirming the fossil evidence. The results also reveal an unexpected clade of mostly terrestrial squirrels with African and Holarctic centers of diversity. We present a revised classification of squirrels. Our results demonstrate the phylogenetic utility of relatively slowly evolving nuclear exonic data even for relatively recent clades. Ó 2003 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved. 1. Introduction compromised by an incomplete understanding of their phylogenetic relationships. -
The Neotropical Variegated Squirrel, Sciurus Variegatoides (Rodentia: Sciuridae) in Nicaragua, with the Description of a New Subspecies
THE NEOTROPICAL VARIEGATED SQUIRREL, SCIURUS VARIEGATOIDES (RODENTIA: SCIURIDAE) IN NICARAGUA, WITH THE DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SUBSPECIES HUGH H. GENOWAYS AND ROBERT M. TIMM ABSTRACT The Neotropical variegated squirrel, Sciurus variegatoides, is represented in Nica- ragua by five known subspecies—adolphei, belti, boothiae, dorsalis, and underwoodi. Analyses of morphometrics, color, and color patterns of 394 specimens from throughout the country and all available literature support the retention of these subspecies, but also reveal the presence of a sixth population of these squirrels, which is worthy of description and recognition as a new subspecies. This new subspecies is confined to Isla de Ometepe in Lago de Nicaragua. Variegated squirrels on Ometepe are on aver- age the smallest variegated squirrels in the country in most cranial measures; however, in postorbital breadth, the island population averages larger than the samples from the surrounding mainland. This island population is the smallest and most distinctive of any population of variegated squirrels from throughout the species’ geographic range. The baculum is distinct in size, shape, and angle of the disc. Ometepe variegated squirrels have a distinctive albeit a highly variable color pattern. Although there are some color differences between the populations found on the north island (Volcán Concepción) and the south island (Volcán Maderas), all specimens from Ometepe are regarded as belonging to a single subspecies because there are no discernable differences in cranial measures. Throughout Nicaragua’s Pacific lowland dry tropical forest region, there is no evidence of integration between S. variegatoides dorsalis with S. v. adolphei, the subspe- cies occurring to the north; between S. -
List of 28 Orders, 129 Families, 598 Genera and 1121 Species in Mammal Images Library 31 December 2013
What the American Society of Mammalogists has in the images library LIST OF 28 ORDERS, 129 FAMILIES, 598 GENERA AND 1121 SPECIES IN MAMMAL IMAGES LIBRARY 31 DECEMBER 2013 AFROSORICIDA (5 genera, 5 species) – golden moles and tenrecs CHRYSOCHLORIDAE - golden moles Chrysospalax villosus - Rough-haired Golden Mole TENRECIDAE - tenrecs 1. Echinops telfairi - Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec 2. Hemicentetes semispinosus – Lowland Streaked Tenrec 3. Microgale dobsoni - Dobson’s Shrew Tenrec 4. Tenrec ecaudatus – Tailless Tenrec ARTIODACTYLA (83 genera, 142 species) – paraxonic (mostly even-toed) ungulates ANTILOCAPRIDAE - pronghorns Antilocapra americana - Pronghorn BOVIDAE (46 genera) - cattle, sheep, goats, and antelopes 1. Addax nasomaculatus - Addax 2. Aepyceros melampus - Impala 3. Alcelaphus buselaphus - Hartebeest 4. Alcelaphus caama – Red Hartebeest 5. Ammotragus lervia - Barbary Sheep 6. Antidorcas marsupialis - Springbok 7. Antilope cervicapra – Blackbuck 8. Beatragus hunter – Hunter’s Hartebeest 9. Bison bison - American Bison 10. Bison bonasus - European Bison 11. Bos frontalis - Gaur 12. Bos javanicus - Banteng 13. Bos taurus -Auroch 14. Boselaphus tragocamelus - Nilgai 15. Bubalus bubalis - Water Buffalo 16. Bubalus depressicornis - Anoa 17. Bubalus quarlesi - Mountain Anoa 18. Budorcas taxicolor - Takin 19. Capra caucasica - Tur 20. Capra falconeri - Markhor 21. Capra hircus - Goat 22. Capra nubiana – Nubian Ibex 23. Capra pyrenaica – Spanish Ibex 24. Capricornis crispus – Japanese Serow 25. Cephalophus jentinki - Jentink's Duiker 26. Cephalophus natalensis – Red Duiker 1 What the American Society of Mammalogists has in the images library 27. Cephalophus niger – Black Duiker 28. Cephalophus rufilatus – Red-flanked Duiker 29. Cephalophus silvicultor - Yellow-backed Duiker 30. Cephalophus zebra - Zebra Duiker 31. Connochaetes gnou - Black Wildebeest 32. Connochaetes taurinus - Blue Wildebeest 33. Damaliscus korrigum – Topi 34. -
Rapid Responses Against Invasive Species on Islands: Lessons from the Introduced Barbary Ground Squirrel Atlantoxerus Getulus in the Canary Islands
Rapid responses against invasive species on islands: lessons from the introduced Barbary ground squirrel Atlantoxerus getulus in the Canary Islands F ÉLIX M. MEDINA,MARTA L ÓPEZ-DARIAS and J ULIEN C. PIQUET Abstract Despite efforts to combat invasive species, further increasing (Martín Esquivel et al., ) and the control of measures are still required to prevent their arrival and some of them entails severe financial costs (e.g. Lampropeltis translocation, especially into biodiverse island ecosystems. californiae; Gesplan, ). The archipelago lacks effective Although many governments worldwide have already estab- control, rapid warning procedures for invasive species, or lished protocols to control alien species, the European a legal framework to control movement of invasive species outermost regions have yet to implement fully effective between islands. prevention or rapid response procedures. The numerous The invasive Barbary ground squirrel Atlantoxerus translocations of the invasive Barbary ground squirrel getulus, which is native to Morocco and Algeria, illustrates Atlantoxerus getulus within the Canary Islands illustrate the situation. A pair of squirrels were taken to Fuerteventura this problem. From to at least . individuals in as pets, and by the s the species had colonized per year have been moved from Fuerteventura to other is- most of the island (López-Darias, ). In Spain the species lands. If movements of these medium-sized vertebrates are is now legally considered an invasive species. Its possession, taking place regularly, -
Life History Traits, Social Organisation and the Drivers of Sociality in an Invasive Ground Squirrel
Life history traits, social organisation and the drivers of sociality in an invasive ground squirrel by Anne Marie van der Marel A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies of The University of Manitoba in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Department of Biological Sciences University of Manitoba Winnipeg, MB, Canada Copyright © 2019 by Anne Marie van der Marel Thesis abstract Sociality evolves when the benefits outweigh the costs of interacting with conspecifics and can be influenced by genetic, phylogenetic, life history, or ecological constraints. Many groups are formed by natal philopatry with the environment constraining levels of sociality. For example, diurnal rodents living in harsh environments can be social to avoid the costs of predation. I used the invasive population of the Barbary ground squirrel (Atlantoxerus getulus) on the arid island of Fuerteventura, Spain, as my study system to explore this idea. Two Barbary ground squirrels were introduced to Fuerteventura in 1965. As they are invasive, I first questioned whether life history traits influenced their invasion success. Then, I used observational, experimental and genetic data to investigate whether they are social and whether predator avoidance is a selective pressure influencing their social patterns by studying their vigilance and alarm vocalisations. Barbary ground squirrels have large and frequent litters, and thus show potential for rapid population growth with a generation time of approximately one year, which may have contributed to their invasion success. They are social, as both males and females interact throughout the day, but they show sexual segregation of sleeping burrows. -
The Barbary Ground Squirrel Atlantoxerus Getulus (Sciuridae), a Species with Dual Status Offender in the Arab Maghreb
Global Veterinaria 16 (1): 37-45, 2016 ISSN 1992-6197 © IDOSI Publications, 2016 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.gv.2016.16.01.101139 The Barbary Ground Squirrel Atlantoxerus getulus (Sciuridae), a Species with Dual Status Offender in the Arab Maghreb Faiza Taibi, Mahieddine Boumendjel, Walid Boudjema, Mohamed Tahar Diabi, Mohamed Amine Hennouni and Redouane Zenki Research Laboratory on Biodiversity and Ecosystems Pollution, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, Chadli Bendjedid El-Tarf University, Algeria Abstract: During our work we were interested in the study of the ecology of a local species of squirrel, Atlantoxerus getulus living in Algeria. This species has been the subject of a morphological, anatomical and behavioral study to provide a knowledge base on this knownless species in Algeria. The aim of our work is to update some data on the Gaetulia Squirrel or Barbary Squirrel (Atlantoxerus getulus Linnaeus, 1758). Our work is based on a morphometric study of a marketed unlawfully in Annaba region (Algeria, North East) and may pose a threat as invasive species like that was the case at Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands. We also conducted a survey of the local population of massive Edough to Seraidi (Annaba). It turns out that the observations relate to a second rodent, (Lemniscomys barbarus Linnaeus, 1758). An investigation into the Edough’s mountain and a study of its behavior on "Elevated Plus Maze" detected behavioral artifacts and conclude to terrestrial displacement. This demonstrates that individuals are from arid or semi-arid geographical area rather than a forest ecosystem such as that of Edough Mount. Key words: Barbary Ground Squirrel Atlantoxerus getulus IUCN Ethology Conservation Algeria INTRODUCTION most highly recommended and cheapest ways to fight against it.