Redshank squirrel
| Redshank squirrel | ||||||||||||
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Lady Burton redshank squirrel ( Funisciurus isabella ) |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Funisciurus | ||||||||||||
| Trouessart , 1880 |
The redshank squirrels or African chipmunks ( Funisciurus ) are a genus of squirrels that is native to the forests of Africa . 10 species are distinguished within the genus.
features
They are small and agile animals whose fur is usually patterned in reddish brown and black. Sometimes there are also yellow-brown areas. Some species have the type of unrelated chipmunks longitudinal stripes on the back. The underside is always white. The length of the head body is 15 to 25 cm, depending on the species, plus 10 to 20 cm of tail.
Way of life
Little is known about the way of life. Like other squirrels, these animals look for nuts, seeds, and fruits, and occasionally eat insects or bird eggs. They build nests from plant materials in the branches of the trees and raise an average of two young there.
Systematics
Ten species are distinguished within the genus:
- Thomas redshank squirrel , Funisciurus anerythrus ( Thomas 1890 ), Central Africa
- Lunda redshank squirrel , Funisciurus bayonii ( Bocage 1890 ), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola
- Carruthers redshank squirrel , Funisciurus carruthersi Thomas 1906 , Ruwenzori Mountains
- Congo redshank squirrel , Funisciurus congicus ( Kuhl 1820 ), DR Congo, Angola , Namibia
- Duchaillu redshank squirrel ( Funisciurus duchaillui ) ( Sanborn 1953 ), Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Lady Burton redshank squirrel , Funisciurus isabella ( Gray 1862 ), Cameroon , Central African Republic , Rep. Congo
- Banded redshank squirrel , Funisciurus lemniscatus ( Le Conte 1857 ), Cameroon, Central African Republic, DR Congo
- African red squirrel or orange-headed tree squirrel, Funisciurus leucogenys ( Waterhouse 1842 ), West Africa
- Firefoot squirrel , Funisciurus pyrropus ( Cuvier 1833 ), West and Central Africa
- Kintampo redshank squirrel , Funisciurus substriatus De Winton 1899 , West Africa
Hazard and protection
None of the species are considered endangered. The carruther redshank squirrel, which until recently was listed as an endangered species by the IUCN , was reverted to the status of non-threatened in 2004. However, so little is known about some species that no statement can be made about their population size.
literature
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. 2 volumes. 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD et al. 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 .
