Red-bellied squirrel
| Red-bellied squirrel | ||||||||||||
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Red bellied squirrel ( Sciurus aureogaster ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Sciurus aureogaster | ||||||||||||
| F. Cuvier , 1829 |
The red-bellied squirrel ( Sciurus aureogaster ) is a representative of the squirrels .
features
Red-bellied squirrels have gray-white fur and a reddish lower abdomen. Sometimes they are black, young animals are gray. The normal length is 42 to 55 cm. The bushy tail is 20 to 30 cm long.
distribution and habitat
The red-bellied squirrel is found in southern Mexico and Guatemala . It was also introduced to several islands in the Florida Keys . Here they live in deciduous and tropical forests up to 3800 m .
Way of life
The red-bellied squirrels are especially foraging in the morning hours. They often have a favorite tree where their nest or den is located. But they also use caves in other trees, for example to escape predators. In the dry season, the females give birth to two to four young.
food
The main food is fruits such as papaya , but also coconuts and the coffin palm. Other plants and nuts are also consumed when fruit is not available.
supporting documents
- ↑ a b c d Mexican Fauna ( Memento of the original from September 22, 2012 on WebCite ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , accessed December 31, 2012
- ↑ a b Sciurus aureogaster in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species .
- ^ Encyclopedia of Life , accessed December 31, 2012
literature
- John L. Koprowski, Adrián Nieto-Montes de Oca, Geoffrey H. Palmer, Nicolás Ramos-Lara, Robert M. Timm: Sciurus aureogaster (Rodentia: Sciuridae). Mammalian Species 49 (951), Aug. 17, 2017; Pp. 81-92. doi : 10.1093 / mspecies / sex009
