Striped bush squirrel
| Striped bush squirrel | ||||||||||||
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| Paraxerus flavovittis | ||||||||||||
| ( Peters , 1852) |
The striped bush squirrel ( Paraxerus flavovittis ) is a species of squirrel from the genus of the African bush squirrel ( Paraxerus ). It occurs in the southeast of the African continent in the coastal area from southeast Kenya to the north of Mozambique .
features
The striped bush squirrel reaches an average head-trunk length of about 16.5 to 17.6 centimeters, the tail is about 16.0 to 17.5 centimeters long. The rear foot length is about 35 to 40 millimeters, the ear length 15 to 18 millimeters. The animals have a short and rough coat, the basic color is reddish-brown and varies seasonally and individually. The hair on the back fur is black with one or more reddish brown ribbons and a white tip of hair. On the sides of the body they each have a conspicuous white to yellowish and about nine to ten millimeters wide side stripe, which is bordered by a fine darker stripe at the bottom. Below the side stripes, the fur on the flanks is olive brown. On the forefeet they have isolated ocher-colored hairs, which result in a corresponding coloration, and there may also be ocher-colored washings around the shoulders, the head and in the groin area. The peritoneum is white to whitish-brown. There are two indistinct light stripes on the cheeks above and below the eyes, which extend from the nose to the ear. The front and rear feet are colored whitish. The tail, which is about as long as the rest of the body, becomes bushy towards the end and has light and dark rings at the end of the tail.
| 1 | · | 0 | · | 2 | · | 3 | = 22 |
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The skull has a total length of 38.6 to 42.2 millimeters and a width of 21.1 to 23.7 millimeters. Like all species of the genus has the type in the upper jaw half per one to a incisor tooth formed incisor (incisor) to which a tooth gap ( diastema follows). This is followed by two premolars and three molars . The teeth in the lower jaw correspond to those in the upper jaw, but only with a premolar. In total, the animals have a set of 22 teeth. The row of molars from the first premolar to the third molar is 6.7 to 7.9 millimeters. The bony palate ends at the anterior margin of the last molars.
The striped bush squirrel is similar to other bush squirrels, but is usually slightly smaller when compared to other species. The sympatric and similar Smith bush squirrel ( Paraxerus cepapi ) and also the ocher bush squirrel ( Paraxerus ochraceus ) have no side stripes.
distribution
The striped bush squirrel occurs in the southeast of the African continent in the coastal area from southeast Kenya to the east and southeast of Tanzania and the southeast of Malawi to the north of Mozambique .
Way of life
The striped bush squirrel lives in forest and savannah areas as well as in thickets , whereby it prefers habitats with dense branches and plenty of nesting opportunities. It also occurs in agricultural areas.
The animals are diurnal and, like other bush squirrels, live on trees. They live solitary, in pairs or as families with mother and offspring. The animals build their nests in tree hollows and other suitable nesting possibilities of the hardwoods, but occasionally they also nest in house roofs. Like other species of the genus, they are omnivorous and they seek their food on the ground and in the trees. The diet consists of fruits, seeds, buds, leaves and roots as well as insects and other available animal food sources. In agricultural areas, they feed on millet and other crops.
Young animals were observed at different months, so far in March, April, June and September. A limited mating season is therefore probably not available. The young are born in the nests. The coloration with the light side stripes takes place with a head-torso length of 9 to 10 centimeters. No information is available on parasites and predators.
Systematics
The striped bush squirrel is classified as an independent species within the genus of the African bush squirrel ( Paraxerus ), which consists of eleven species. The first scientific description comes from Wilhelm Peters from 1852, who described the species using individuals from Mocímboa da Praia in northern Mozambique.
Within the species, four subspecies are distinguished with the nominate form :
- Paraxerus flavovittis flavovittis : nominate form; occurs in eastern Mozambique around Cabaceira .
- Paraxerus flavovittis exgeanus : in the southeast of Tanzania. The side stripes are shorter and, with a width of around five millimeters, also narrower than in the nominate form.
- Paraxerus flavovittis ibeanus : in the southeast of Tanzania. The facial stripes are paler than in the nominate form, the side stripes are shorter and wider.
- Paraxerus flavovittis mossambicus : around Mocímboa in the north of Mozambique. The side stripes are white or ivory-colored, bordered by monochrome dark fur. The top of the head and the neck are dark gray, the fur on the back is dark olive brown. This subspecies is not listed in Shennum and Thorington 2013.
Status, threat and protection
The striped bush squirrel is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) as not endangered ("least concern"). This is justified with the large distribution area and the assumed large stocks. It is also found in numerous protected areas and is very adaptable to changes in habitat. Accordingly, it does not show any significant declines and there are no potential risks to the existence of the population.
supporting documents
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Chad E. Shennum, Richard W. Thorington Jr .: Paraxerus flavovittis, Striped Bush Squirrel. In: Jonathan Kingdon, David Happold, Michael Hoffmann, Thomas Butynski, Meredith Happold and Jan Kalina (eds.): Mammals of Africa Volume III. Rodents, Hares and Rabbits. Bloomsbury, London 2013, pp. 80-81; ISBN 978-1-4081-2253-2 .
- ↑ Peter Grubb: Genus Paraxerus, Bush Squirrels. In: Jonathan Kingdon, David Happold, Michael Hoffmann, Thomas Butynski, Meredith Happold and Jan Kalina (eds.): Mammals of Africa Volume III. Rodents, Hares and Rabbits. Bloomsbury, London 2013, pp. 72-74; ISBN 978-1-4081-2253-2 .
- ↑ 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; Pp. 238-239. ISBN 978-1-4214-0469-1
- ↑ a b Paraxerus flavovittis in the Red List of Threatened Species of the IUCN 2016-1. Posted by: P. Grubb, 2008. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
- ↑ a b Paraxerus flavovittis . In: Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Eds.): 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 .
literature
- Richard W. Thorington Jr. , John L. Koprowski, Michael A. Steele: Squirrels of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2012; Pp. 238-239. ISBN 978-1-4214-0469-1
- Chad E. Shennum, Richard W. Thorington Jr .: Paraxerus flavovittis, Striped Bush Squirrel. In: Jonathan Kingdon, David Happold, Michael Hoffmann, Thomas Butynski, Meredith Happold and Jan Kalina (eds.): Mammals of Africa Volume III. Rodents, Hares and Rabbits. Bloomsbury, London 2013, pp. 80-81; ISBN 978-1-4081-2253-2 .
Web links
- Paraxerus flavovittis inthe IUCN 2016-1 Red List of Threatened Species . Posted by: P. Grubb, 2008. Retrieved August 1, 2016.