xerus

[ zeer-uh s ]
/ ˈzɪər əs /

noun

an African ground squirrel of the genus Xerus, having spiny fur, very short ears, and a long tail, and including the species X. rutilus of northeastern Africa and X. erythropus of western and central Africa.

Origin of xerus

< New Latin (1833), apparently < Greek xērós dry, perhaps in reference to its rough fur

Words nearby xerus

xerosis, xerostomia, xerothermic, xerotic, xerox, xerus, xerxes i, xhosa, xi, xi baryon, xi jiang