Who is cited as the species authority for Xerus inauris (Cape Ground Squirrel)?
Answer
Desmarest, 1822
Scientific naming conventions require attributing the first formal description of a species to the taxonomist and year responsible for that initial classification. For the Cape Ground Squirrel, designated as *Xerus inauris*, the authority consistently recorded across biological repositories is Desmarest, with the year of description being 1822. This contrasts with *Xerus rutilus*, the unstriped ground squirrel, which was designated by Tete in 1845. This distinction in authorship and date reflects when each species was first recognized and formally incorporated into the scientific classification system, even though they share the common genus *Xerus*.
Related Questions
Which Class do all members of the genus Xerus belong to, based on possessing hair and nursing young?What specific dental characteristic defines the Order Rodentia which includes Xerus?Which group of mammals shares the Family Sciuridae classification with Xerus?What specific tribe grouping separates Xerus from the genus Sciurus?Who is cited as the species authority for Xerus inauris (Cape Ground Squirrel)?What environmental conditions are suggested to influence the tribal placement of Xerus?What shared physical trait is noted for species within the genus Xerus?What does the classification divergence between Xerus (Old World) and Spermophilus (New World) imply?Which system confirms the genus Xerus and its placement within the standard hierarchy according to the text?What taxonomic rank represents the point of broad agreement across modern biological classification for Xerus?