Philippines miniature squirrel
| Philippines miniature squirrel | ||||||||||||
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| Exilisciurus concinnus | ||||||||||||
| ( Thomas , 1888) |
The Philippines dwarf squirrel ( Exilisciurus concinnus ) is a species of squirrel from the genus of the Asian dwarf squirrel ( Exilisciurus ). It occurs on several islands in the Philippines .
features
The Philippines dwarf squirrel reaches a head-trunk length of around 8.5 to 8.8 centimeters and weighs around 28 grams, making it one of the smallest species of squirrel in the world. The tail becomes 6.2 to 6.8 inches long, which is shorter than the rest of the body. The animals are dark brown on top with a reddish tinge, the belly is lighter brown.
distribution
The Philippines dwarf squirrel is found on several islands in the Philippines around Mindanao . There it can be found on the islands of Basilan , Biliran , Bohol , Dinagat , Leyte , Samar and Siargao . In Mindanao, the species lives in the provinces of Agusan del Norte , Bukidnon , Davao del Sur , Davao Oriental , Lanao del Norte , Lanao del Sur , Maguindanao , Misamis Occidental , South Cotabato , Surigao del Norte , Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur . The altitude distribution ranges from about 700 to 2000 meters.
Way of life
Little information is available about the way of life of the Philippine miniature squirrel. It lives mainly in the dense primary and secondary forests of the distribution area, although it can also exist well in clearings after felling.
The animals are diurnal, the activity times begin early in the morning throughout the day. They are found in the low and middle areas of the trees, where they are mainly found on the tree trunks, on the underside of branches, in tree hollows and near tree stumps. In the event of a malfunction, they quickly run down the tree trunks and hide between the tree roots. Communication takes place via short, high-pitched chirps.
Systematics
The Philippines dwarf squirrel is classified as a separate species within the genus of the Asian dwarf squirrel ( Exilisciurus ), which consists of three species. The first scientific description comes from Oldfield Thomas from 1888, who described the species on the basis of individuals from the area of Isabela City on the island of Basilan .
Apart from the nominate form, no subspecies are distinguished within the species .
Status, threat and protection
The Philippines miniature squirrel is classified as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). This is justified by the frequent occurrence of the species and the great adaptability to secondary habitats . There are no known threats to their survival, although the animals are affected by deforestation of habitats in some parts of the range.
supporting documents
- ↑ a b c d Richard W. Thorington Jr., John L. Koprowski, Michael A. Steele: Squirrels of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2012; Pp. 158-159. ISBN 978-1-4214-0469-1
- ↑ a b c d e Exilisciurus concinnus in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014.2. Submitted by: P. Ong, B. Tabaranza, G. Rosell-Ambal, D. Balete, L. Heaney, 2008. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
- ↑ a b c Exilisciurus concinnus 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; Pp. 158-159. ISBN 978-1-4214-0469-1
Web links
- Exilisciurus concinnus inthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014.2. Submitted by: P. Ong, B. Tabaranza, G. Rosell-Ambal, D. Balete, L. Heaney, 2008. Retrieved December 26, 2014.