Andean squirrel

Species of rodent

Andean squirrel
Conservation status

Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Genus: Sciurus
Species:
S. pucheranii
Binomial name
Sciurus pucheranii
(Fitzinger, 1867)
Subspecies[2]
  • S. p. pucheranii
  • S. p. caucensis
  • S. p. medellinensis
Andean's squirrel's range
Synonyms

Microsciurus pucherani

The Andean squirrel (Sciurus pucheranii) is a tree squirrel endemic to Colombia where it inhabits montane rain forest and cloud forests of the Cordillera Occidental and Cordillera Central ranges of the Colombian Andes, at elevations between 2,000 and 3,300 metres (6,600 and 10,800 ft). It is a small species with a body length of about 14 cm (6 in) and a similar length tail. It has soft, silky, reddish-brown fur, a darker tail and yellowish-grey underparts. It is thought to be diurnal but has been little studied, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being data deficient.

Description

The Andean squirrel is a typical tree squirrel, in its general proportions resembling the Eastern grey squirrel of North America. However, it is much smaller, with a body length of only about 14 centimetres (5.5 in), and a 12 to 16 centimetres (4.7 to 6.3 in) tail. Although there are few records of its weight, it appears to be generally between about 100 and 140 grams (3.5 and 4.9 oz). It has soft, silky, reddish-brown fur over most of the body, merging to greyish-yellow on the underparts. The tail fur is darker than that on the body, and some Andean squirrels also have a distinctive dark stripe down their flanks, and/or a black patch on the back of the head. Females have six teats.[3]

Distribution and habitat

It inhabits montane rain forest and cloud forests of the Cordillera Occidental and Cordillera Central of the Colombian Andes, at elevations between 2,000 and 3,300 metres (6,600 and 10,800 ft). As a tree squirrel, it lives among Cecropia trees, palms, and tree ferns. It is believed to be diurnal, but sufficiently little is known about its habits, population, and habitat requirements, that it is currently listed as data deficient by the IUCN.[1][3]

References

  1. ^ a b Amori, G.; Koprowski, J.; Roth, L. (2019). "Sciurus pucheranii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T20018A22246662. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T20018A22246662.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. ^ Thorington, R.W. Jr.; Hoffmann, R.S. (2005). "Sciurus (Guerlinguetus) pucheranii". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: a taxonomic and geographic reference (3rd ed.). The Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 754–818. ISBN 0-8018-8221-4. OCLC 26158608.
  3. ^ a b Leonard, K.M.; et al. (2009). "Sciurus pucheranii (Rodentia: Sciuridae)". Mammalian Species (841): 1–4. doi:10.1644/841.1.
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Extant species of family Sciuridae (subfamily Sciurinae, Sciurini tribe)
Microsciurus
(Dwarf squirrels)
  • Central American dwarf squirrel (Microsciurus alfari)
  • Amazon dwarf squirrel (Microsciurus flaviventer)
  • Western dwarf squirrel (Microsciurus mimulus)
  • Santander dwarf squirrel (Microsciurus santanderensis)
Rheithrosciurus
  • Tufted ground squirrel (Rheithrosciurus macrotis)
Sciurus
Subgenus Guerlinguetus
Brazilian squirrel (Sciurus aestuans)
South Yungas red squirrel (Sciurus argentinius)
Yellow-throated squirrel (Sciurus gilvigularis)
Red-tailed squirrel (Sciurus granatensis)
Bolivian squirrel (Sciurus ignitus)
Atlantic Forest squirrel (Sciurus ingrami)
Andean squirrel (Sciurus pucheranii)
Richmond's squirrel (Sciurus richmondi)
Sanborn's squirrel (Sciurus sanborni)
Guayaquil squirrel (Sciurus stramineus)
Subgenus Hadrosciurus
Fiery squirrel (Sciurus flammifer)
Junín red squirrel (Sciurus pyrrhinus)
Subgenus Hesperosciurus
Western gray squirrel (Sciurus griseus)
Subgenus Otosciurus
Abert's squirrel (Sciurus aberti)
Subgenus Sciurus
Allen's squirrel (Sciurus alleni)
Arizona gray squirrel (Sciurus arizonensis)
Mexican gray squirrel (Sciurus aureogaster)
Eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
Collie's squirrel (Sciurus colliaei)
Deppe's squirrel (Sciurus deppei)
Japanese squirrel (Sciurus lis)
Calabrian black squirrel (Sciurus meridionalis)
Mexican fox squirrel (Sciurus nayaritensis)
Fox squirrel (Sciurus niger)
Peters's squirrel (Sciurus oculatus)
Variegated squirrel (Sciurus variegatoides)
Red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)
Yucatan squirrel (Sciurus yucatanensis)
Subgenus Tenes
Caucasian squirrel (Sciurus anomalus)
Subgenus Urosciurus
Northern Amazon red squirrel (Sciurus igniventris)
Southern Amazon red squirrel (Sciurus spadiceus)
Syntheosciurus
  • Bangs's mountain squirrel (Syntheosciurus brochus)
Tamiasciurus
(Pine squirrels)
  • Douglas squirrel (Tamiasciurus douglasii)
  • Southwestern red squirrel (Tamiasciurus fremonti)
  • American red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)
Category
Taxon identifiers
Sciurus pucheranii