Unstriped Ground Squirrel
Xerus rutilus
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassMammalia (Mamífers)
- OrderRodentia (Rosegadors)
- FamilySciuridae (Squirrels)
- GenusXerus
- SpeciesXerus rutilus (Unstriped Ground Squirrel)
The unstriped ground squirrel (Xerus rutilus) is a species of rodent (order Rodentia) in the family Sciuridae. It is the only member of the genus Xerus. It is found in Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are dry savanna and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland. Wikipedia →
20–30% of wildlife watchers report a Unstriped Ground Squirrel sighting in Tsavo East National Park, based on 38 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Tsavo East National Park
Ochre Bush Squirrel
Paraxerus ochraceus
Red Bush Squirrel
Paraxerus palliatus
Zanj Sun Squirrel
Heliosciurus undulatus
Wilson's Spiny Mouse
Acomys wilsoni
Naked Mole Rat
Heterocephalus glaber
Crested Porcupine
Hystrix cristata
East African Gerbil
Gerbilliscus vicinus
Nairobi Grass Rat
Arvicanthis nairobae
Woodland Dormouse
Graphiurus murinus
Kellen's Dormouse
Graphiurus kelleni
Harrington's Gerbil
Taterillus emini
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Samburu National Reserve | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 2 | Meru National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 3 | Tarangire National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 4 | Tsavo West National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 5 | Tsavo East National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 6 | Amboseli National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 7 | Mkomazi National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 8 | Lake Manyara National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 9 | Lake Nakuru National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 10 | Ngorongoro Conservation Area | 🇹🇿 Tanzania |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Unstriped Ground Squirrel in Tsavo East National Park?
About 21% of wildlife watchers report a Unstriped Ground Squirrel sighting in Tsavo East National Park, based on 38 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Unstriped Ground Squirrel in Tsavo East National Park?
February has the highest sighting rate for Unstriped Ground Squirrel in Tsavo East National Park in our monthly data.