Zanj sun squirrel

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Zanj sun squirrel
Systematics
Subordination : Squirrel relatives (Sciuromorpha)
Family : Squirrel (Sciuridae)
Subfamily : Ground Squirrel (Xerinae)
Tribe : Protoxerini
Genre : Sun squirrel ( Heliosciurus )
Type : Zanj sun squirrel
Scientific name
Heliosciurus undulatus
( True , 1892)

The Zanj-sun squirrel ( Heliosciurus undulatus ) is a kind from the kind of sun squirrel ( Heliosciurus ). It occurs in the coastal border area of Kenya and Tanzania in East Africa.

features

The Zanj sun squirrel is a large squirrel of the genus and has an average head-trunk length of about 23.5 to 25.5 centimeters, the tail is about 27 to 28 centimeters long and the weight is around 320 grams. The rear foot length is about 5.6 millimeters, the ear length 17 to 19 millimeters. The back fur of the animals is gray to sandy brown. The individual hairs are black and orange banded with a white subterminal area. The ventral side is light white-gray to ocher in color. The tail is comparatively long with 120% of the head-trunk length, it is thin and has 10 to 14 alternating dark and light easily recognizable rings. The tail hairs are about 40 millimeters long. The color of the face and the muzzle as well as the legs corresponds to the back color and has individual light gray or ocher accents. The intensity of the back coloration varies regionally; at higher altitudes the animals are darker, in the north of the distribution area somewhat paler and in the south more gray and somewhat duller in color.

Similar species are other sun squirrels such as the red-footed sun squirrel ( Heliosciurus rufobrachium ), which does not overlap with it in the area of ​​distribution and has reddish color accents in its fur, the Ruwenzori sun squirrel ( Heliosciurus ruwenzorii ) with a white belly stripe and the variable sun squirrel ( Heliosciurus ) mutabilis darker coat color.

distribution

The Zanj sun squirrel occurs in the coastal border area of Kenya and Tanzania in East Africa. It also lives on the offshore islands of Zanzibar and Mafia, which are part of Tanzania . Information on occurrence on Pemba varies; while Thorington et al. 2012 includes Pemba, the island is not mentioned in Shennum & Thorington 2013 and specifically excluded from the IUCN.

Way of life

The Zanj sun squirrel lives mainly in the lowlands and mainly inhabits the coastal forests and wooded areas along the rivers, but can also occur away from them. On Kilimanjaro it has been proven to be below 2000 meters and lives here in forest areas and thickets. Little information is available about the ecology and way of life. The species is omnivorous and feeds mainly on fruits, palm fruits, seeds, leaves, buds and insects. It nests in tree hollows on the trunk and in thicker branches.

Systematics

The Zanj sun squirrel is classified as an independent species within the genus of the sun squirrel ( Heliosciurus ), which consists of six species. The first scientific description comes from Frederick William True from 1892, who described the species as Sciurus undulatus using a male from Kilimanjaro from 1,800 meters above sea level and a female found in Kahe south of Kilimanjaro. For a long time it was considered a subspecies of the red-footed sun squirrel ( Heliosciurus rufobrachium ), but in 1982 it was raised to the rank of species, the subspecies Heliosciurus rufobrachium keniae was then temporarily assigned to the Zanj sun squirrel.

Apart from the nominate form, no subspecies are distinguished within the species .

Status, threat and protection

The Zanj sun squirrel is not classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) in a hazard category, but is listed as "data deficient" due to the limited amount of data available on occurrence and stocks. The habitats in the forest areas on the East African coast are affected by a spreading transformation into agricultural areas and settlement areas as well as uncontrolled logging for the production of fuel and charcoal . The adaptability and impact of the activity on the species' populations are unknown.

supporting documents

  1. ↑ a b c d e f Richard W. Thorington Jr. , John L. Koprowski, Michael A. Steele: Squirrels of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2012; Pp. 231-232. ISBN 978-1-4214-0469-1
  2. ↑ a b c d e f g Chad E. Shennum, Richard W. Thorington: Heliosciurus undulatus, Zanj Sun Squirrel. In: Jonathan Kingdon, David Happold, Michael Hoffmann, Thomas Butynski, Meredith Happold and Jan Kalina (eds.): Mammals of Africa Volume III. Rodents, Hares and Rabbits. Bloomsbury, London 2013, pp. 69-70; ISBN 978-1-4081-2253-2 .
  3. ↑ a b c Heliosciurus undulatus in the Red List of Threatened Species of IUCN 2015-4. Posted by: P. Grubb, 2008. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
  4. ↑ a b Heliosciurus undulatus 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. 231-232. ISBN 978-1-4214-0469-1
  • Chad E. Shennum, Richard W. Thorington: Heliosciurus undulatus, Zanj Sun Squirrel. In: Jonathan Kingdon, David Happold, Michael Hoffmann, Thomas Butynski, Meredith Happold and Jan Kalina (eds.): Mammals of Africa Volume III. Rodents, Hares and Rabbits. Bloomsbury, London 2013, pp. 69-70; ISBN 978-1-4081-2253-2 .

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