Neotropical pygmy squirrel
| Neotropical Pygmy Squirrel Temporal range: Recent
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| Subfamily: | Sciurillinae Moore, 1959
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| Genus: | Sciurillus Thomas, 1914
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| Species: | S. pusillus
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| Sciurillus pusillus (E. Geoffrey, 1803)
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| Neotropical Pygmy Squirrel | |
The Neotropical pygmy squirrel (Sciurillus pusillus) is a very small tree squirrel, being the only living species in the genus Sciurillus and the subfamily Sciurillinae. It is found in the lowland rainforests of Brazil, Colombia, Peru, French Guiana, Guyana and Suriname.
Description
The Neotropical pygmy squirrel is the smallest species of tree squirrel native to the Americas, measuring on average just 10 cm (3.9 in) in head-body length, with an 11 cm (4.3 in) tail. Adults weigh from 30 to 48 grams (1.1 to 1.7 oz). The fur is grizzled grey over the body, with paler, but not sharply contrasting, fur on the underparts. The head is slightly reddish, with distinct white markings behind the ears, which are shorter and more rounded than on most other tree squirrels. The limbs are slender, with the forelimbs elongated to assist in climbing. Females have six teats.[3]
Distribution and habitat
Neotropica pygmy squirrels inhabit at least four widely separated regions in northern South America, in French Guiana, Surinam, central Brazil, northern Peru, and southern Colombia.[1] Within these regions, they inhabit lowland tropical rainforests.[3] Three subspecies are currently recognised, although their respective geographic distributions are unclear,[2] and it has been proposed that these may represent two or more distinct species.[4]
- S. p. pusillus E. Geoffroy, 1803
- S. p. glaucinus Thomas, 1914
- S. p. kuhlii Gray, 1867
Biology and behaviour
References
- ^ a b Template:IUCN2008
- ^ a b Thorington, R.W., Jr.; Hoffmann, R.S. (2005). "Sciurillus pusillus". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: a taxonomic and geographic reference (3rd ed.). The Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 754–818. ISBN 0-8018-8221-4. OCLC 26158608.
{{cite book}}: External link in|chapterurl=|chapterurl=ignored (|chapter-url=suggested) (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Jessen, R.R.; et al. (2013). " Sciurillus pusillus (Rodentia: Sciuridae)". Mammalian Species. 45 (903): 75–79. doi:10.1644/903.1.
{{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in:|author=(help) - ^ Mercer, J.M. & Roth, V.L. (2003). "The effects of Cenozoic global change on squirrel phylogeny". Science. 299 (5612): 1568–1572. doi:10.1126/science.1079705.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
Bibliography
- John F Eisenberg and Kent H Redford, 2000. Mammals of the Neotropics: Ecuador, Bolivia, Brazil
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