Mentawai tree squirrel
| Mentawai tree squirrel | ||||||||||||
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| Sundasciurus fraterculus | ||||||||||||
| ( Thomas , 1895) |
The Mentawai tree squirrel ( Sundasciurus fraterculus ) is a species of squirrel from the genus of the Sunda tree squirrel ( Sundasciurus ). It occurs on the Indonesian Mentawai Islands off the west coast of Sumatra .
features
The Mentawai tree squirrel reaches a head-trunk length of 11.6 to 11.9 centimeters. The tail is 7.5 to 7.8 inches long, making it significantly shorter than the rest of the body. The back color is cloudy grayish-reddish brown, this color also extending to the legs, feet and the entire tail. The reddish tone is more evident on the cheeks and hips. The hair on the ventral side is iron gray at the base and light reddish brown at the ends of the hair.
The Mentawai tree squirrel differs from the widespread Sunda slender squirrel ( Sundasciurus tenuis ) primarily in its smaller size and more monotonous coloration.
distribution
The Mentawai tree squirrels come on to Indonesia belonging Mentawai Islands before. It lives on the islands of Sipora and Siberut as well as on southern and northern Pagai .
Way of life
No data are available on the way of life of the Mentawai tree squirrel. It lives in the primary forest stands of the lowlands.
Together with the Mentawai flying squirrel ( iomys Sipora ), the Sipora flying squirrel ( Hylopetes Sipora ), the Siberut flying squirrel ( Petinomys lugens ), the Mentawai croissant ( Callosciurus melanogaster ), Leopoldamys siporanus , Maxomys pagensis , Chiropodomys karlkoopmani , Rattus lugens and Lariscus obscurus , the Mentawai tree squirrel represents the endemic rodent fauna of the Mentawai Islands.
Systematics
The Mentawai tree squirrel is classified as an independent species within the genus of the Sunda tree squirrel ( Sundasciurus ), which - depending on the author - consists of 15 to 17 species. The first scientific description comes from Oldfield Thomas from 1895, who described the species on the basis of an individual from the island of Sipora.
Apart from the nominate form, no subspecies are distinguished within the species .
Status, threat and protection
The Mentawai tree squirrel is classified as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). This classification is justified with the very small distribution area, which covers less than 5000 km 2 and is very fragmented. Due to the area of the remaining forests, it is assumed that the species can occur on a maximum of 500 km 2 . In addition, it is assumed that there will be a strong decline in stocks to up to 50% of the original stocks. The main threat to the species comes from logging.
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; P. 184. ISBN 978-1-4214-0469-1
- ↑ a b c d Sundasciurus fraterculus in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014.3. Posted by: K. Helgen , K. Aplin, 2008. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
- ↑ Don E. Wilson & DeeAnn M. Reeder (eds.): Leopoldamys siporanus in Mammal Species of the World. A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed).
- ↑ a b c Sundasciurus fraterculus 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 .
literature
- Richard W. Thorington Jr., John L. Koprowski, Michael A. Steele: Squirrels of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2012; P. 184. ISBN 978-1-4214-0469-1
Web links
- Sundasciurus fraterculus inthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014.3. Posted by: K. Helgen, K. Aplin, 2008. Retrieved January 2, 2015.