Red-tailed squirrel

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Red-tailed squirrel
Red-tailed squirrel (Sciurus granatensis chrysuros) male Caldas.jpg
S. g. chrysuros, Caldas, Colombia
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Genus: Sciurus
Species:
S. granatensis
Binomial name
Sciurus granatensis
(Humboldt, 1811)
Red tailed squirrel habitat map (cropped).png
Distribution of the red-tailed squirrel
Synonyms

Notosciurus granatensis

color variant from Barranquilla, Colombia Ardilla Barranquilla.jpg
color variant from Barranquilla, Colombia

The red-tailed squirrel (Sciurus granatensis) is a species of tree squirrel distributed from southern Central America to northern South America.

Contents

Distribution

It is found in Central and South America (Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela) and the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Tobago and Margarita. [2] [3] According to the Global Register of Introduced and Invasive Species it has also been introduced and is invasive in Cuba, [3] however this refers to a small population found around some parts of the margin of Rio Almendares in Havana that escaped from the Havana Zoo. [4]

Habitat

Ranges from 0 to 3,000 m (0 to 9,843 ft) in elevation. It inhabits many types of forests, and can be found in picnic grounds. [1]

Taxonomy

It was recently reclassified as Notosciurus granatensis in 2015, Notosciurus being a genus created in 1914 by Joel Asaph Allen for a juvenile of this species. [5] However, the IUCN still puts it as a member of the genus Sciurus.

Infraspecific variability

This is an extremely variable species in terms of coat colours. As such numerous former species and subspecies have been named from within its range, often from the same locality. Over the years many species were moved into subspecies of this taxon. In 1961 Cabrera recognised 28 subspecies. Other subspecies were subsequently added, such as Sciurus llanensis which was named from southern Venezuela in 1984 and later sank into Sciurus granatensis as a subspecies, so that by the early 2000s 32 subspecies were recognised. [2] [5] In 2015 these were reduced to 6 geographical subspecies. [5] Koprowski, Mercer and Roth writing for the IUCN in 2008, however, claimed the species should perhaps be split into a number of species based on never published morphological and genetic research. [1]

Similar species

It is most closely related to Sciurus pucheranii in South America. It is somewhat larger than this species, although the sizes overlap, except where the two species occur sympatrically in the eastern Andes of Colombia where S. granatensis is always noticeably larger. These two species are the only two squirrels of South America which possess 3 pairs of teats and a patch of lighter coloured (generally orange) fur on the head behind the ears (except the subspecies morulus and chapmani). [5] It is also closely related to Sciurus richmondi of Nicaragua, which replaces S. granatensis ssp. hoffmanni to the north of Costa Rica. This species is a bit smaller, similar in colouration to S. granatensis ssp. hoffmanni but a bit duller, with the orange streaks on the tail coloured more pale. [6] S. richmondi is likely conspecific with Sciurus granatensis. [6] [7]

Conservation

This is a common squirrel with a stable population and a vast range consisting of different habitats, including human influenced environments, thus it is not thought to be at threat. [1] In 2008, the IUCN hinted at that should the species be split into different species; some of these could be deemed threatened. [7]

It has been introduced to a small area near Havana on Cuba, where it is not native. [3] [4] No damage to the native fauna has been reported. [4]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bangs's mountain squirrel</span> Species of rodent

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red giant flying squirrel</span> Species of rodent

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maroon-tailed parakeet</span> Species of bird

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prevost's squirrel</span> Species of "beautiful" squirrel from Southeast Asia

Prevost's squirrel or Asian tri-coloured squirrel is a colourful species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. It is found in forests in the Thai-Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo and nearby smaller islands, with an introduced population in northern Sulawesi. Although the Prevost's squirrel is declining in some regions because of habitat loss and hunting, the species is not considered threatened since it generally remains common and widespread. It can live in somewhat disturbed habitats and often visits plantations or gardens. It mostly feeds on plant material, especially fruits, but also takes insects.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santander dwarf squirrel</span> Species of squirrel

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black giant squirrel</span> Species of rodent

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deppe's squirrel</span> Species of rodent

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fiery squirrel</span> Species of rodent

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The Yucatan squirrel, originally named the Yucatan gray squirrel, also once named the Campeche squirrel, is a tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus found in the Yucatán Peninsula and adjacent areas. It is native to northern Belize, northeastern Guatemala, and southeast Mexico.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Koprowski, J.; Roth, L.; Timm, R.; Samudio, R.; Reid, F.; Emmons, L. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Sciurus granatensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T20010A115154583. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T20010A22247615.en . Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  2. 1 2 Thorington, R.W. Jr.; Hoffmann, R.S. (2005). "Sciurus (Guerlinguetus) granatensis". 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.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Sciurus granatensis Humboldt, 1811". GBIF Backbone Taxonomy - Checklist dataset. GBIF Secretariat. 2017. doi:10.15468/39omei . Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 Borroto-Páez, Rafael (December 2009). "Invasive mammals in Cuba: An overview". Biological Invasions. 11 (10): 2285. doi:10.1007/s10530-008-9414-z. S2CID   33793425 . Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 de Vivo, Mario; Carmignotto, Ana Paula (January 2015). "Family Sciuridae G. Fischer, 1817". In Patton, James L.; Pardiñas, Ulyses F.J.; D'Elía, Guillermo (eds.). Mammals of South America Volume 2, Rodents (1 ed.). Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp. 32–40. doi:10.7208/chicago/9780226169606.001.0001. ISBN   978-0226169576 . Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  6. 1 2 Jones Jr., J. Knox; Genoways, Hugh H. (July 1971). "Notes on the Biology of the Central American Squirrel, Sciurus richmondi". American Midland Naturalist. New Orleans: University of Notre Dame. 86 (1): 242–246. doi:10.2307/2423714. JSTOR   2423714 . Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  7. 1 2 Koprowski, J. & Roth, L. (2008). "Sciurus richmondi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2008: e.T20020A9134791. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T20020A9134791.en .