Vincent croissant

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Vincent croissant
Systematics
Subordination : Squirrel relatives (Sciuromorpha)
Family : Squirrel (Sciuridae)
Subfamily : Ground Squirrel (Xerinae)
Tribe : Protoxerini
Genre : African bush squirrel ( Paraxerus )
Type : Vincent croissant
Scientific name
Paraxerus vincenti
Hayman , 1950

The Vincent squirrel ( Paraxerus vincenti ) is a rarely researched species of squirrel from the genus of the African bush squirrel ( Paraxerus ). It is endemic to Monte Namuli in Mozambique . The type epithet honors the British ornithologist Jack Vincent , who collected the type specimen in August 1932.

features

The Vincent squirrel is a medium-sized to large squirrel that reaches a head-to-trunk length of 208 mm and a tail length of 213.5 mm in females . The males reach a head-trunk length of 214.7 mm and a tail length of 206 mm. The fur on the back, the limbs and the top of the feet are gray-black. The peritoneum, the muzzle and the eye region are deep reddish brown. The skull and cheeks are dark brown. The long tail is black-brown with a reddish-brown tip. The Vincent croissant is similar to the red-tailed squirrel ( Paraxerus palliatus ), but the peritoneum is darker reddish-brown.

Occurrence, habitat and way of life

The Vincent croissant is only known from the evergreen wet forests on Monte Namuli north of the Zambezi , where it occurs at altitudes between 1200 and 1850 m. Due to the two decades of civil war in Mozambique, there have been few expeditions in this region, so that his way of life has not yet been explored.

status

The IUCN classifies the Vincent croissant in the “endangered” category . The forest on Monte Namuli is threatened by slash and burn, cultivation and logging. Apparently the species is also hunted for consumption.

literature

  • Richard W. Thorington Jr., John L. Koprowski, Michael A. Steele, James F. Whatton: Squirrels of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2012, ISBN 978-1-4214-0469-1 , p. 246.

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