While squirrels are commonly associated with North American or European parks and forests, a common question arises regarding their distribution: are these familiar creatures also found on the diverse continent of Africa?
Squirrels Across the African Continent
Squirrels are indeed found throughout Africa, with a rich diversity of species adapted to various environments. Both tree squirrels and ground squirrels inhabit different regions of the continent. These rodents, belonging to the family Sciuridae, have been present in Africa for approximately 20 million years, indicating a long evolutionary history there.
Their presence extends across a wide range of African landscapes, from arid plains to dense forests. The African squirrel population includes numerous species that exhibit varied behaviors and physical characteristics. While some are arboreal, spending most of their lives in trees, others are terrestrial, primarily living and foraging on the ground.
A Look at African Squirrel Species
The Cape ground squirrel (Geosciurus inauris) is found in southern Africa across Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. These squirrels have reddish-brown fur, a paler underside, and a distinctive white stripe running from shoulder to hip. Cape ground squirrels are diurnal, active during the day, and often live in colonies, exhibiting social behaviors like mobbing predators.
The striped ground squirrel (Euxerus erythropus) is another prominent species, moderately large with sandy-brown to dark-brown fur and a white lateral stripe. This species has a wide distribution across Africa south of the Sahara.
Tree squirrels, such as the Southern African tree squirrel (Paraxerus cepapi), also known as Smith’s bush squirrel, inhabit woodland areas. These arboreal squirrels are about 35 cm long, with half of that being their bushy tail. Their coat color varies from pale grey in western, arid regions to more brown in eastern localities. The genus Paraxerus alone includes 11 species of African bush squirrels.
Where African Squirrels Live
Ground squirrels, such as the Cape ground squirrel, primarily inhabit arid and semi-arid regions, including savannas, grasslands, and the Kalahari Desert. They create complex burrow systems that offer protection from extreme temperatures and predators. These burrows are often shared with other animals like meerkats and yellow mongooses, highlighting their role in the ecosystem.
Tree squirrels are found in different environments, including rainforests, woodland savannas, and bushveld areas. The Southern African tree squirrel is particularly common in riverine bush and mopane veld. While primarily arboreal, these squirrels frequently descend to the ground to forage for food. Their distribution covers central, eastern, and northern parts of Southern Africa, extending into countries like Angola, Zambia, and Mozambique.