Long-nosed squirrel
| Long-nosed squirrel | ||||||||||||
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Long-nosed Squirrel ( Rhinosciurus laticaudatus ) |
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| Scientific name of the genus | ||||||||||||
| Rhinosciurus | ||||||||||||
| Blyth , 1856 | ||||||||||||
| Scientific name of the species | ||||||||||||
| Rhinosciurus laticaudatus | ||||||||||||
| ( S. Müller , 1840) |
The long-nosed squirrel ( Rhinosciurus laticaudatus ) is the only species of the genus Rhinosciurus from the squirrel family . Its outstanding feature is an extremely elongated and pointed snout. The fur of this animal is red-brown on the top and whitish on the underside. The tail hairs are gray, but have white tips. The long-nosed squirrel has a head body length of 20 cm, plus a tail of about 12 cm. It is widespread on the Malay Peninsula , the islands of Sumatra and Borneo and some smaller islands in Indonesia .
features
The long-nosed squirrel reaches a head-trunk length of 19.5 to 21.5 centimeters and a tail length of 11.5 to 14.0 centimeters. The back fur is dark brown and the belly side is white to cream-colored. The muzzle is pulled out. The tail is bent upwards while walking.
In its shape, the long-nosed squirrel is so similar to the shrewfish that in most regions of the distribution area both are given the same name; however, the long-nosed squirrels are rodents , while the shrews are a separate order that is not related to them.
Way of life
Long-nosed squirrels are solitary inhabitants of primary and secondary tropical rainforests . Here they move on the ground. The nest is built under the roots of trees. The litter, which consists of one or two young, is raised in these nests. The long snout and an equally long, protruding tongue have evolved in adaptation to a largely insectivorous diet consisting of ants , termites , beetles and earthworms . While other croissants only consume animal food on the side, it has become the main food of the long-nosed squirrels, fruits are also eaten next to it.
Systematics
The long-nosed squirrel is the only species in the thus monotypical genus Rhinosciurus . It was described by Salomon Müller in 1840 as Sciurus laticaudatus from western Kalimantan in Indonesia .
Within the species, three subspecies are distinguished with the nominate form :
- Rhinosciurus laticaudatus laticaudatus S. Müller , 1840 : in the north, west and south of Borneo as well as from the Natuna islands Buguran and Serasan
- Rhinosciurus laticaudatus alacris Thomas , 1908 : on the Malay Peninsula, parapatric to Rhinosciurus l. saturatus
- Rhinosciurus laticaudatus saturatus Robinson & Kloss, 1919 : on the Malay Peninsula (parapatric to Rhinosciurus l. Alacris ), on Sumatra and on the Indonesian island of Tuangku .
Threat and protection
The long-nosed squirrel is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) as a type of warning list (Near Threatened, NT). Although the species is widespread and occurs in numerous protected areas in both primary and secondary forest areas, logging and forest loss are very high in their range and the population size is decreasing.
supporting documents
- ↑ a b c d J.L. Koprowski, EA Goldstein, KR Bennett, C. Pereira Mendes: Genus Rhinosciurus. In: Don E. Wilson, TE Lacher, Jr., Russell A. Mittermeier (Eds.): Handbook of the Mammals of the World: Lagomorphs and Rodents 1. (HMW, Volume 6) Lynx Edicions, Barcelona 2016, ISBN 978- 84-941892-3-4 , p. 729.
- ↑ Rhinosciurus In: Richard W. Thorington Jr., John L. Koprowski, Michael A. Steele: Squirrels of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2012; Pp. 172-174. ISBN 978-1-4214-0469-1
- ↑ Rhinosciurus laticaudatus in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2019. Posted by: E. Meijaard, JW Duckworth, B. Lee, RJ Tizard, 2008. Accessed August 1 of 2019.
literature
- JL Koprowski, EA Goldstein, KR Bennett, C. Pereira Mendes: Genus Rhinosciurus. In: Don E. Wilson, TE Lacher, Jr., Russell A. Mittermeier (Eds.): Handbook of the Mammals of the World: Lagomorphs and Rodents 1. (HMW, Volume 6) Lynx Edicions, Barcelona 2016, ISBN 978- 84-941892-3-4 , p. 729.
- Rhinosciurus In: Richard W. Thorington Jr., John L. Koprowski, Michael A. Steele: Squirrels of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2012; Pp. 172-174. ISBN 978-1-4214-0469-1
- 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 .
Web links
- Rhinosciurus laticaudatus in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2019. Posted by: E. Meijaard, JW Duckworth, B. Lee, RJ Tizard, 2008. Accessed August 1 of 2019.