The Shagquirrel

With the decrease in sea levels associated with the current glaciation, the possibility of new species arriving through rafting events has become more plausible. Rodents had already reached the Canary Islands in the Pleistoncene with the genus Canariomys, evolving into relatively giant species that faced extinction with the advent of Homo sapiens. In the next five million years, during the upcoming major ice age, new rodent species have managed to reach Guayota. One of these species is the Barbary ground squirrel (Atlantoxerus getulus) , likely originating from a North African population or another island in the archipelago where it may have been introduced in the 20th century.

Devoid of terrestrial competition, these squirrels have undergone an increase in size, not to the extent of the ancient giant rats, but more akin to the giant rabbit of Menorca Nuralagus rex. In the Desertocene, the Shagquirrel (Pseudomarmota wombatusmimus) weigh 30 kilograms, like a australian wombat, representing an increase of 100% compared to their Barbary squirrel ancestors. Alongside the hedgedog, this constitutes a typical case of insular gigantism.

It's important to note that this gigantism is not a consequence of the absence of predators but rather the lack of competition, as these rodents fall prey to eagles, hawks, and other birds of prey. Additionally, instances of carnivorous parrots harassing sick individuals have been observed, reminiscent of the behavior of the New Zealand kea in the human era, although it is not typical. To cope with these dangers, various behavioral changes have evolved.

Firstly, similar to their ancestors, these species are crepuscular, foraging at dawn and dusk. They live in groups of up to X individuals, but unlike their predecessors, the role of a sentinel is not assigned to a group member but to another species with which they engage in symbiosis – the snow parrot. The parrot spends evenings perched on the backs of these squirrels, scanning the horizon and sky to spot predators before anyone else and alerting the group. Upon hearing the parrot's call, the squirrels swiftly seek refuge under vegetation, rocks, or terrain outcrops.

In return for this service, the parrots derive various benefits. Both species inhabit an extremely harsh habitat characteristic of the current ice age – the cold slopes of the ancient volcano that formed the island. Although the island is located at the latitude of the Sahara Desert, the peaks of this mountain freeze during winter. However, its slopes are quite fertile due to volcanic soil and the deposition of dust from the North African desert. The challenge lies in accessing this resource beneath the snow. The squirrels dig with their claws, providing an opportunity for the parrots to feed. Moreover, thanks to the heat generated by these large rodents, the parrots cluster together on cold nights to conserve warmth. They only part ways with the squirrels to construct nests and raise their offspring.

These rodents are omnivores, with a significant presence of vegetation in their diet. They excel at climbing and are significant migrators, traversing mountainous terrains depending on the season to feed on fresh fruits, flowers, or tubers. Flowers abound in higher elevations during the summer, they graze on grasses and herbs on the slopes in spring, seek shelter in the few forests and shrubs for seeds, fruits, and insects in autumn, and descend to lower altitudes in winter to devour resources essential for the harshest period of the glacial era.

*This species is a reference to Shagrat from The Future is Wild. One of the drawings is inspired by one of the frames of the documentary.