Peters' croissant
| Peters' croissant | ||||||||||||
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| Sciurus oculatus | ||||||||||||
| Peters , 1863 |
Peters' squirrel ( Sciurus oculatus ) is a species of squirrel from the genus of squirrels ( Sciurus ). It is common in central Mexico .
features
Peters' croissant is a comparatively large croissant and reaches a total length of about 50.8 to 54.3 centimeters, the tail is 25.6 to 26.9 centimeters long and is thus about as long as the rest of the body. The back color of the animals is gray, often with a dark band in the area of the spine. The ventral side is white with pale yellow or ocher washings. The animals have a white or sand-colored eye ring around their eyes. The tail is black with white washings on the upper side, there is often a yellow area underneath.
distribution
Peters' croissant is endemic to central Mexico and is found in the states of San Luis Potosí , Hidalgo , Veracruz , Puebla , Querétaro and Guanajuato . The altitude distribution ranges from 1500 to 3600 meters, but usually between 1650 and 1950 meters.
Way of life
Peters' croissant lives in dry pine and oak forests at high altitudes and in some valleys in the region. The animals are diurnal and feed on herbivores mainly of seeds and fruits such as nuts, almonds and figs. They move quickly through the branches of the trees and can overcome gaps of more than two meters. The mating season is probably in the summer in July or August; no data are available on the litter.
Systematics
Peters' squirrel is classified as a separate species within the genus of squirrels ( Sciurus ), which consists of almost 30 species. The first scientific description comes from Wilhelm Peters from 1863, who described the species using individuals from the area around Las Vigas in the Mexican state of Veracruz .
Within the species, together with the nominate form, three subspecies are distinguished:
- Sciurus oculatus oculatus : nominate form, in the eastern part of the distribution area. The subspecies has a black band on the middle of the back.
- Sciurus oculatus shawi : in the northern part of the range. The subspecies has a pale gray back color, the belly is pink and cinnamon.
- Sciurus oculatus tolucae : in the western part of the range. The subspecies has a gray band on the middle of the back, the belly side is gray-white or sand-colored.
Status, threat and protection
Peters' croissant is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) as "not endangered" (least concern). This is justified by the relatively large distribution area and the assumed high population numbers. Potential risks for the populations are not known, the species is common locally, but no population figures are known. Due to the strong change in more than half of the habitats, the stock situation could also be fragile.
supporting documents
- ↑ a b c d e f g 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. 64-65 .
- ↑ a b c d Sciurus oculatus in the Red List of Threatened Species of the IUCN 2015.2. Posted by: ST Álvarez-Castañeda, I. Castro-Arellano, T. Lacher, E. Vázquez, 2008. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
- ↑ a b c Sciurus oculatus 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, ISBN 978-1-4214-0469-1 , pp. 64-65 .
Web links
- Sciurus oculatus inthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015.2. Posted by: ST Álvarez-Castañeda, I. Castro-Arellano, T. Lacher, E. Vázquez, 2008. Retrieved July 16, 2015.