Callosciurus

<i>Callosciurus</i>

Callosciurus

Genus of "beautiful" squirrels from Asia


Callosciurus is a genus of squirrels collectively referred to as the "beautiful squirrels". They are found mainly in Southeast Asia, though a few species also occur in Nepal, northeastern India, Bangladesh and southern China.[1] Several of the species have settled on islands. In total, the genus contains 15 species and numerous varieties and subspecies.[1] The genera Glyphotes, Rubrisciurus, and Tamiops have sometimes been included in Callosciurus.

Species

There are approximately 15 species in this genus,[1] and over 60 subspecies. These squirrels range in length from 13 to 27 cm (5.1 to 10.6 in), not including the tail which is often about the same length as the body.[2][3] Most are rather dull olive-brown to gray and several have a pale and dark stripe on their side, however a few are very colorful.[2] The Pallas's squirrel may have an unremarkable olive-gray back, while its belly is often –but not always– bright red.[4] The "typical" subspecies of Prevost's squirrels have black backs, white sides, and red-brown undersides. The Finlayson's squirrel occurs in numerous varieties, three of which are overall red-brown, overall black, or pure white.[2]

Most squirrels in Callosciurus live in tropical rain forests, but some individuals live in parks and gardens in cities. In the trees, they build their nests out of plant material. They are solitary, and give birth to one to five young. Their food consists of nuts, fruits, and seeds, and also of insects and bird eggs.

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References

  1. Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M., eds. (2005). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  2. Francis, C. M. (2008). A Guide to the Mammals of Southeast Asia. ISBN 978-0-691-13551-9
  3. Payne, J., and C. M. Francis (1985), A Field Guide to the Mammals of Borneo. ISBN 967-99947-1-6
  4. Smith, T. S., and Y. Xie, editors (2008). A Guide to the Mammals of China. ISBN 978-0-691-09984-2
  5. Thorington, R.W. Jr.; Hoffmann, R.S. (2005). "Family Sciuridae". 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 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 26158608.
  6. Lunde, D.; Duckworth, J. W.; Lee, B. & Tizard, R. J. (2008). "Callosciurus quinquestriatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008: e.T3605A9977678. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T3605A9977678.en. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  7. Duckworth, J. W.; Lee, B. & Tizard, R. J. (2008). "Callosciurus nigrovittatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008: e.T3599A9967361. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T3599A9967361.en. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  8. Lee, B.P.Y-H.; Tizard, R.J. (2016). "Callosciurus orestes". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T3601A22253873. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T3601A22253873.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  9. Kennerley, R.; Meijaard, E. (2016). "Callosciurus adamsi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T3591A22254804. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T3591A22254804.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  10. Duckworth, J.W. (2016). "Callosciurus caniceps". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T3594A22254694. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T3594A22254694.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  11. Nguyen, Son Truong; Oshida, Tatsuo; Dang, Phuong Huy; Bui, Hai Tuan; Motokawa, Masaharu (June 2018). "A new species of squirrel (Sciuridae:Callosciurus) from an isolated island off the Indochina Peninsula in southern Vietnam". Journal of Mammalogy. 99 (4): 813–825. doi:10.1093/jmammal/gyy061.
  12. Duckworth, J.W.; Timmins, R.J. (2016). "Callosciurus inornatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T3597A22254170. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T3597A22254170.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  13. Corbet and Hill, 1992
  14. Duckworth, J.W. (2016). "Callosciurus pygerythrus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T3604A22253451. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T3604A22253451.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  15. Meijaard, E. (2016). "Callosciurus baluensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T3593A22254589. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T3593A22254589.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  16. Koprowski, J. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Callosciurus albescens". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T3592A115065203. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T3592A22254928.en. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  17. Chiozza, F. (2016). "Callosciurus phayrei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T3602A22253805. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T3602A22253805.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.

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