Amazon dwarf squirrel
| Amazon Dwarf Squirrel | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
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| Species: | M. flaviventer
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| Binomial name | |
| Microsciurus flaviventer (Gray, 1867)
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| Amazon Dwarf Squirrel range | |
The Amazon dwarf squirrel or Guianan squirrel (Microsciurus flaviventer) is a chipmunk-sized tree squirrel native to South America.
Description
As its name suggests, the Amazon dwarf squirrel is relatively small, with a head-body length of 12 to 16 cm (4.7 to 6.3 in) and a tail 8 to 16 cm (3.1 to 6.3 in) long. Adults weigh between 86 and 132 g (3.0 and 4.7 oz), with males being slightly larger than females.[2] The fur varies from reddish to dull brown, fading gradually to yellow or greyish on the underparts. There is a distinctive patch of pale yellow fur behind the ears, while the tail has faint yellowish bands and white frosting.[3]
The limbs are unusually long for tree squirrels. In the forelimbs, the humerus and radius are of equal length, an adaptation thought to increase the squirrel's ability to climb large trees, compensating for a lack of shoulder mobility. The longer hindlimbs allow for stronger muscles, so that the squirrel can leap over larger gaps, relative to its size, than more typically sized squirrels can.[3]
Distribution and habitat
The squirrels are found in the upper Amazon Basin, broadly west of the Purus and Rio Negro rivers, in Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia. They typically inhabit evergreen tropical rainforests at up to 2,000 m (6,600 ft) elevation,[3] although they may sometimes be found in more disturbed habitats.[4]
Subspecies
The table below lists the eight recognized subspecies of Microsciurus flaviventer, along with any synonyms associated with each subspecies:[5][3]
| Subspecies | Authority | Synonyms | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| M. f. flaviventer | Gray (1867) | manarius | Western Brazil, northeastern Peru |
| M. f. napi | Thomas (1900) | avunculus, florenciae | Northeastern Ecuador |
| M. f. otinus | Thomas (1901) | none | Western Colombia |
| M. f. peruanus | J. A. Allen (1897) | none | Northern Peru |
| M. f. rubrirostris | J. A. Allen (1914) | rubicollis | Southern Peru |
| M. f. sabanillae | Anthony (1922) | none | Southern Ecuador |
| M. f. similis | Nelson (1899) | none | Far western Colombia |
| M. f. simonsi | Thomas (1900) | none | Central eastern Ecuador |
Biology and behaviour
It is diurnal and arboreal, coming to ground from time to time. Its diet consists of fruit, the latex of certain trees, and arthropods. It is mostly solitary, but may be found with others feeding on the same tree.
References
- ^ Template:IUCN2008
- ^ Hayssen, V. (August 2008). "Patterns of body and tail length and body mass in Sciuridae". Journal of Mammalogy. 89 (4): 852–873. doi:10.1644/07-MAMM-A-217.1.
- ^ a b c d "Microsciurus flaviventer (Rodentia: Sciuridae)". Mammalian Species. 48 (935): 59–65. August 2016. doi:10.1093/mspecies/sew006.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|authors=ignored (help) - ^ "Small mammal assemblages in a disturbed tropical landscape at Pozuzo, Peru". Mammalian Biology. 75 (1): 83–91. January 2010. doi:10.1016/j.mambio.2009.08.006.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|authors=ignored (help) - ^ Thorington, R.W., Jr.; Hoffmann, R.S. (2005). "Microsciurus flaviventer". 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)
Bibliography
- Tirira, Diego. 2006. Mamíferos del Ecuador, Diversidad: Microsciurus flaviventer (Gray, 1867). Page on internet (Enero 2006). Version 1.1. Ediciones Murciélago Blanco. Quito. Mamiferos del Equador Checked on: fecha de visita (2009-03-17)
External links
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