Layard palm squirrel
| Layard palm squirrel | ||||||||||||
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| Funambulus layardi | ||||||||||||
| ( Blyth , 1849) |
The Layard palm squirrel ( Funambulus layardi ) is a species of squirrel from the genus of the striped palm squirrel ( Funambulus ). The species name honors the British naturalist Edgar Leopold Layard , who discovered the species.
features
The males of the Layard palm horn reach a head-trunk length of 144 mm and a tail length of 158 mm, the females a head-trunk length of 154 mm and a weight of 168 g. The coat pattern shows the Layard palm squirrel as the most colorful member of the entire genus. There are three longitudinal stripes on the back, with the middle stripe on the back and sometimes also the stripes on the side having a bright orange-yellow color. The peritoneum shows a chestnut, yellowish-orange or rust-brown color. A red center line runs across the underside of the tail.
Distribution, habitat and way of life
The Layard palm squirrel is found in the southwest and central regions of Sri Lanka . An erroneous sighting of a young animal in India is apparently based on a confusion with the dark palm squirrel ( Funambulus sublineatus ). Evergreen rainforests in the lowlands and in the mountain regions are preferred as habitat. The way of life of the Layard palm squirrel is little explored. It is diurnal and tree dwelling.
status
The Layard palm squirrel is considered rare and is classified by the IUCN as "endangered" (vulnerable). The main threat comes from habitat destruction and degradation caused by large wood plantations, selective clearing and forest fires. The extent of habitat destruction is estimated at 20 to 50 percent over a period of 10 years.
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. 161-162.
Web links
- Funambulus layardi in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2012. Posted by: A. de Goonatilake, WILDPTS, Nameer, PO Molur, S., 2008. Accessed June 2, 2013.
- Photos and information at ARKive