Western miniature squirrel
| Western miniature squirrel | ||||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Microsciurus mimulus | ||||||||||||
| ( Thomas , 1898) |
The western dwarf squirrel ( Microsciurus mimulus ) is a species of squirrel from the genus of the New World dwarf squirrel ( Microsciurus ). It occurs from Panama to the west of Colombia and the northwest of Ecuador .
features
The western dwarf squirrel reaches a head-trunk length of about 13.5 to 14.8 centimeters with a weight of about 120 grams. The tail becomes 9.4 to 11.6 centimeters long, which is shorter than the rest of the body. The back fur of the animals is greyish-brown, interspersed with pale yellow or orange-sand-colored washings and sometimes with a black center line. The belly is pale to red-orange. The tail is grayish black and light yellow or frosted gray in darker animals. The legs are relatively long.
| 1 | · | 0 | · | 2 | · | 3 | = 22 |
| 1 | · | 0 | · | 1 | · | 3 |
The animals have as other species of the genus in the upper jaw half per one to a incisor tooth formed incisor (incisor) to which a tooth gap ( diastema follows). This is followed by two premolars and three molars . In contrast, the animals have only one premolar in the lower jaw. In total, the animals have a set of 22 teeth. The second premolar (PM3) is absent especially in some populations of the Amazonian dwarf squirrel ( Microsciurus flaviventer ), in the other species it is very small.
distribution
The western dwarf squirrel is found from Panama to the west of Colombia and the northwest of Ecuador . The altitude distribution extends up to 2000 meters.
Way of life
The western dwarf squirrel lives in the evergreen rainforest areas at the base of mountains and in mountain rainforests above 800 meters in Panama, especially in areas where it is sympathetic to the Central American dwarf squirrel (Microsciurus alfari) and much deeper in Colombia and Ecuador. The western dwarf squirrel is diurnal and searches for food quickly, especially on the ground and in low foliage, while it is probably actively looking for insects and other invertebrates. The animals often come in pairs.
Systematics
The western dwarf squirrel is classified as an independent species within the genus of the New World dwarf squirrel ( Microsciurus ), which consists of four species. The first scientific description comes from Oldfield Thomas from 1898, who described the species on the basis of individuals from the region around the city of Esmeraldas in Ecuador.
Within the species, three subspecies are distinguished including the nominate form :
- Microsciurus mimulus mimulus : nominate form, occurs in the southern part of the distribution area. It often has a black back line.
- Microsciurus mimulus boquetensis : in Panama to the north of Colombia. The shape is usually a bit paler on the back and slightly ocher to reddish-brown on the belly.
- Microsciurus mimulus isthmius : in the central area of the distribution area from the extreme southwest of Panama to Colombia. The back is more yellowish with a reddish tinge in the rear part of the trunk.
Microsciurus mimulus isthmius is described in Patton et al. 2015 regarded as a separate species Microsciurus isthmius . In addition, no subspecies are distinguished between her and Microsciurus mimulus .
Status, threat and protection
The western dwarf squirrel is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) as "Least Concern". The reason given is the relatively large distribution area, the assumed high population figures and the occurrence in several protected areas. Although parts of the distribution area are affected by intensive deforestation, this does not seem to affect the population figures.
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, ISBN 978-1-4214-0469-1 , pp. 34-35 .
- ↑ a b James L. Patton, Ulyses FJ Pardiñas, Guillermo D'Elía: Mammals of South America, Volume 2: Rodents. University of Chicago Press, 2015; P. 24 ff. ( Google Books )
- ↑ a b c d Microsciurus mimulus in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015.1. Posted by: J. Koprowski, L. Roth, R. Samudio, F. Reid, L. Emmons, 2008. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
- ↑ a b Microsciurus mimulus 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. 34-35 .
Web links
- Microsciurus mimulus inthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015.1. Posted by: J. Koprowski, L. Roth, R. Samudio, F. Reid, L. Emmons, 2008. Retrieved July 9, 2015.