The Xerinae comprise a subfamily of squirrels, many of which are highly terrestrial. It includes the tribes Marmotini (marmots, chipmunks, prairie dogs, and other Holarctic ground squirrels), Xerini (African and some Eurasian ground squirrels), and Protoxerini (African tree squirrels).[1]
| Xerinae | |
|---|---|
| |
| South African ground squirrel (Xerus inauris) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Sciuridae |
| Subfamily: | Xerinae Osborn, 1910 |
| Tribes & genera | |
Taxonomy edit
Tribe Xerini six species of ground squirrels in five genera, occurring in Africa and Asia.
Tribe Protoxerini thirty species of tree squirrels in six genera, occurring in Africa.
Tribe Marmotini ground squirrels in fifteen genera, occurring world wide. Includes the prairie dogs, the marmots (including woodchuck), and chipmunks.
References edit
- ^ Thorington, R. W. and R. S. Hoffmann (2005). "Family Sciuridae". pp. 754–818 in Wilson, E. D. and Reeder, D. M. (eds.), Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Vol. 2. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.
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