Bolivian squirrel

Bolivian squirrel
	Bolivian squirrel ( Sciurus ignitus )
Systematics
Subordination :	Squirrel relatives (Sciuromorpha)
Family :	Squirrel (Sciuridae)
Subfamily :	Tree squirrel and flying squirrel (Sciurinae)
Tribe :	Tree squirrel (Sciurini)
Genre :	Red squirrel ( Sciurus )
Type :	Bolivian squirrel
Scientific name
	Sciurus ignitus
	( Gray , 1867)

The Bolivian squirrel ( Sciurus ignitus ) is a species of squirrel from the genus of squirrels ( Sciurus ). It occurs in western South America from Peru across parts of western Brazil and in Bolivia to northern Argentina .

features

The Bolivian squirrel reaches a head-torso length of about 14.0 to 20.2 centimeters, in addition to a tail that is about 15.0 to 20.0 centimeters long. The weight is 183 to 242 grams. The back color is agouti- brown-gray, the belly is whitish sand-colored to orange. The ears are directed forward and behind them are conspicuous light brown postauricular spots. The color of the tail corresponds to the fur on the back, but is often frosted yellow-orange.

distribution

The Bolivian squirrel occurs in western South America in the Andes region from Peru over parts of western Brazil and in Bolivia to northern Argentina . In 2015, the first record of the species was documented in Paraguay in the western Chaco - Pantanal region in the border area with Bolivia and Brazil.

Way of life

The Bolivian squirrel lives in the evergreen dry to moist rainforest and can also be found in disturbed forest areas. Like other squirrels, it is diurnal and lives in all tree layers with the exception of the crown layer. In addition, the species also runs on the ground, mostly in dense vegetation. The animals live as solitary animals and build their spherical nests at a height of six to ten meters in the branches of the trees or between tendrils and lianas. They feed on seeds, nuts, fruits and mushrooms, as well as insects. When threatened, the animals emit a series of quiet barking noises ("chucks").

Systematics

The Bolivian squirrel is classified as an independent species within the genus of squirrels ( Sciurus ), which consists of almost 30 species. The first scientific description comes from John Edward Gray from 1867, who described the species as Macroxus ignitus using individuals from the Yungas region on the upper reaches of the Río Beni in Bolivia. In the same publication Synopsis of the species of American squirrels in the collection of the British Museum , which appeared in the Annals and Magazine of Natural History , he also described the species Macroxus leucogaster also from Bolivia and Macroxus irroratus from Brazil, both of which are now known as Synonyms to Sciurus ignitus are considered.

Within the species, five subspecies are distinguished with the nominate form :

Sciurus ignitus ignitus : nominate form; east of the Andes in Bolivia and bordering Peru. In this shape, the ventral side is ocher to sand-colored.
Sciurus ignitus argentinius : from Bolivia to the extreme northwest of Argentina. The subspecies has a yellowish belly color and a pink to reddish color on the ears.
Sciurus ignitus boliviensis : in most of Bolivia. It is a large shape with a white belly side.
Sciurus ignitus cabrerai : in Brazil. The back color is dark chestnut brown and interspersed with reddish hair tips. The ears have an orange border and are therefore colored fox red, behind the ear there is also a reddish tuft of hair. The tops of the hands and feet are also reddish.
Sciurus ignitus irroratus : in Peru east of the Andes. The subspecies has a yellow belly.

Status, threat and protection

The Bolivian squirrel is not classified in a hazard category by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) due to insufficient data on populations, taxonomy and ecological needs, but is listed as "data deficient".

supporting documents

↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Richard W. Thorington Jr. , John L. Koprowski, Michael A. Steele: Squirrels of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2012, ISBN 978-1-4214-0469-1 , pp. 56-57 .

↑ ^a ^b Sciurus ignitus in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015.3. Posted by: G. Amori, J. Koprowski, L. Roth, 2008. Retrieved October 30, 2015.
^ Robert M. Timm, José L. Cartes, Mirtha Ruiz-Díaz, Rodrigo Zárate, Ronald H. Pine: Distribution and ecology of squirrels (Rodentia: Sciuridae) in Paraguay, with first country records for Sciurus ignitus. The Southwestern Naturalist 60 (1), 2015; Pp. 121-127. doi : 10.1894 / RTS-22.1
↑ ^a ^b Sciurus ignitus In: Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Ed.): Mammal Species of the World. A taxonomic and geographic Reference. 2 volumes. 3. Edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 .
↑ Melissa J. Merrick, Shari L. Ketcham, and John L. Koprowski: Sciurus ignitus (Rodentia: Sciuridae). Mammalian Species Volume 46 (915), 2014; Pp. 93-100. doi : 10.1644 / 915.100 .

literature

Richard W. Thorington Jr. , John L. Koprowski, Michael A. Steele: Squirrels of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2012, ISBN 978-1-4214-0469-1 , pp. 56-57 .
Melissa J. Merrick, Shari L. Ketcham, and John L. Koprowski: Sciurus ignitus (Rodentia: Sciuridae). Mammalian Species Volume 46 (915), 2014; Pp. 93-100. doi : 10.1644 / 915.100 .

Web links

Sciurus ignitus inthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015.3. Posted by: G. Amori, J. Koprowski, L. Roth, 2008. Retrieved October 30, 2015.

[Thorington_et_al._2012-1] Richard W. Thorington Jr. , John L. Koprowski, Michael A. Steele: Squirrels of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2012, ISBN 978-1-4214-0469-1 , pp. 56-57 .