# What Do Xeruses Eat?

> What xeruses eat: Omnivore (seeds, roots, insects), foraging style, and seasonal shifts in Dry savanna, scrub, and semi-desert.

- **Species:** Xerus (*Xerus inauris*)
- **Conservation status:** Least Concern
- **Diet:** Omnivore (seeds, roots, insects)
- **Habitat:** Dry savanna, scrub, and semi-desert
- **Lifespan:** Around 6 years in the wild
- **Top speed:** Quick, darting runner
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/xerus/what-do-xerus-eat/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/xerus/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

The xerus is an African ground squirrel of dry, open country, known for using its bushy tail as a parasol against the sun. Xerus live in social burrow colonies, eat seeds, roots, and insects, are active by day, and typically live around 6 years in the wild.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need a captive feeding plan from a veterinarian. This page is wild diet, not a pet-care sheet.

## A built-in sunshade

The xerus, or African ground squirrel, fans its long bushy tail forward over its back and head to create shade in the searing heat of the open plains. This living parasol lets it stay active and forage during the hottest part of the day when few other animals are about.

## Help protect the Xerus

Even familiar animals lose ground as wild habitat keeps shrinking worldwide.

[Donate to wildlife protection](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/donate/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/xerus/what-do-xerus-eat/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.