| Microsciurus Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Microsciurus flaviventer | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Sciuridae |
| Subfamily: | Sciurinae |
| Tribe: | Sciurini |
| Genus: | Microsciurus J. A. Allen, 1895 |
| Type species | |
| Sciurus alfari | |
| Species | |
See text | |
Microsciurus [1] or dwarf squirrels is a genus of squirrels from the tropical regions of Central and South America.
Recent DNA analysis has shown that there is some confusion regarding the traditional classification of the species in the genus Microsciurus, [2] and that the genus may be polyphyletic. [3] Currently, there are four species recognized:
A 2020 paper published on the taxonomy of Sciurinae split Microsciurus into three genera, one currently unnamed. The paper included genetic sampling from all species except Santander dwarf squirrel and (Microsciurus) simonsi . It suggests several new species, not all described. [4]
With a typical head-and-body length of about 15 cm (5.9 in) and a 12 cm (4.7 in) long tail, dwarf squirrels are relatively small. However, the Neotropical pygmy squirrel, not in this genus, is much smaller than these species, as are certain squirrels in Africa and Asia. Microsciurus species have gray or brown backs, and white bellies.
All dwarf squirrels in this genus live in tropical rain forests. Estimates of their abundance are limited. [5] The IUCN lists the conservation status as "Least Concern" for three of the species and "Data Deficient" for Microsciurus santanderensis . [6]
Sciurinae is a subfamily of squirrels, uniting the flying squirrels with certain related tree squirrels. Older sources place the flying squirrels in a separate subfamily (Pteromyinae) and unite all remaining sciurids into the subfamily Sciurinae, but this has been strongly refuted by genetic studies.
The genus Sciurus contains most of the common, bushy-tailed squirrels in North America, Europe, temperate Asia, Central America and South America.
The Amazon dwarf squirrel is a chipmunk-sized tree squirrel native to South America.
The Neotropical pygmy squirrel is a South American species of tree squirrel, being the only living species in the genus Sciurillus and the subfamily Sciurillinae. Genetic analysis has shown it to be the sister group to all other squirrels.
The short-tailed spiny-rat or Huallaga spiny rat, is a spiny rat species found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.
The Guyenne spiny-rat or Cayenne spiny rat, is a spiny rat species found in Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela.
The Napo spiny rat is a spiny rat species found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela.
Simons's spiny rat is a spiny rat species found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. It was named for American scientific collector Perry O. Simons.
Sigmodontomys alfari, also known as the short-tailed sigmodontomys, Alfaro's rice water rat, Cana rice rat, or Allen's rice rat, is a species of rodent in the subfamily Sigmodontinae of family Cricetidae. It is found from Honduras through Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama into South America, where it occurs from Venezuela through Colombia to Ecuador.
The Central American dwarf squirrel, also known as Alfaro's pygmy squirrel, is a small tree squirrel in the genus Microsciurus and tribe Sciurini found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama. No species of squirrel within this genus are listed as endangered, however they are rarely seen because they are extremely elusive. This suggests that their population numbers may be larger than documented.
The western dwarf squirrel is a small tree squirrel in the genus Microsciurus and tribe Sciurini found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama.
The Santander dwarf squirrel is a small tree squirrel endemic to Colombia.
The Colombian spiny-rat is a species of rodent in the family Echimyidae. It is found in Colombia and Venezuela.
The Boyacá spiny rat is a species of rodent in the family Echimyidae. It is endemic to Colombia; it is found primary forest in Carare River valley, Boyacá Department, 100 to 500 meters above sea level. Nocturnal, terrestrial and solitary, it feeds on seeds, fruit and some leaves and insects. It is threatened by habitat loss for mining and agriculture.
The Magdalena spiny rat is a species of rodent in the family Echimyidae. It is endemic to Colombia.
The Minca spiny rat is a species of rodent in the family Echimyidae. It is endemic to Colombia.
O'Connell's spiny-rat is a species of rodent in the family Echimyidae. It is endemic to Colombia.
The brown hairy dwarf porcupine is a species of rodent in the family Erethizontidae. Found in the Andes in Colombia and Venezuela, its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is not easy to study as it is only known from a few specimens and wasn't recorded from 1925 until the 2000s. The porcupine is nocturnal and arboreal, feeding on leaves, shoots, and fruits. Habitat loss severely threatens it and it may even be extinct. Formerly listed as vulnerable, it is now designated data deficient. It is not known from any protected areas or conservation measures.
The frosted hairy dwarf porcupine is a porcupine species in the family Erethizontidae from Colombia and northern and eastern Venezuela. It was formerly sometimes assigned to Sphiggurus, a genus no longer recognized since genetic studies showed it to be polyphyletic. The species lives in lowland tropical rainforest and cloud forest at elevations from 50 to 2,600 meters. Its karyotype has 2n = 42 and FN = 76. Its closest relative is the brown hairy dwarf porcupine.
