Summary: Bennett et al. (1984)

 Xerus inauris, commonly known as the Cape ground squirrel, is a diurnal, highly social, sciurid rodent that occurs in the arid regions of southern Africa. Squirrels are common in the southern Kalahari. The bushy tail of this species acts like a sunshade, allowing individuals to reduce environmental heat loads by raising the tail and shading the body. Bennett et al. (1984) measured the operative environmental temperature of squirrel mannequins oriented in different postures and with different tail orientations (late spring). At the same time, they observed naturally occurring thermoregulatory behaviour in a free-living colony. Bennett et al. (1984) noted a change in squirrel behaviour when environmental temperatures exceeded 40 C. Squirrels raised the tail over the body and turned their backs to the sun. By raising the tail over the body (to cover the head), the tail reduced the environmental temperature by over 5 C, allowing squirrels to increase time foraging above the surface (7h shaded vs. 3h unshaded). Squirrels also showed behavioural changes when the shaded temperature exceeded 40 C, by retreating into their cooler underground burrows.