Exilisciurus exilis (S. Müller, 1838)
|
publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6840226 |
|
DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6818638 |
|
persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/064D0660-FFC5-ED39-FA1F-F65BFC24F40B |
|
treatment provided by |
Diego |
|
scientific name |
Exilisciurus exilis |
| status |
|
Least Pygmy Squirrel
Exilisciurus exilis View in CoL
French: Ecureuil menu / German: Borneo-Zwerghérnchen / Spanish: Ardilla pigmea de llanura
Taxonomy. Sciurus exilis S. Muller, 1838 ,
Tanah Laut, Kapuas River Basin, Kaliman-
tan, Indonesia.
This species is monotypic.
Distribution. Borneo and Banggi I (off N Borneo).
Descriptive notes. Head-body mean 72 mm (males) and 73 mm (females), tail mean 40 mm (males) and 51 mm (females); weight mean 17 g (males) and 16-5 g (females). The Least Pygmy Squirrel is the smallest species of the genus. Pelage is an olive-brown with rusty highlights on the dorsum and pinkish buff on venter. Tail is thick and brushy, although less brushy than in other species of Exilisciurus, and redder on ventral surface than on dorsal surface. A narrow circle of darker skin is present around each eye.
Habitat. Mostly in low elevation dipterocarp forests, but in Sarawak, found in areas as high as ¢.1700 m. The Least Pygmy Squirrelis also able to survive in old logged forests.
Food and Feeding. Vegetable matter and small insects, such as ants were found in the stomachsof three individuals. The Least Pygmy Squirrel usually forages on tree trunks, and occasionally on vines or in the buttresses of largertrees.
Breeding. Female Least Pygmy Squirrels have a postpartum estrus and can become pregnant before weaning previous litter. Litter size usually is 2-3 young. Nests are reported to be small and globular, built among roots of fallen trees, c.1 m above the ground.
Activity patterns. The Least Pygmy Squirrel is mostly seen on trunks of mid-story trees, occasionally higher than 12 m above the ground.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no information available for this species.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. The Least Pygmy Squirrel is almost entirely restricted to lowland forest. This habitat is suffering massive degradation in Borneo and it is unclear whether it can use replacement plantations. Least Pygmy Squirrel occurs in several protected areas, but many of these support only small populations as they may be aboveits preferred elevation.
Bibliography. Corbet & Hill (1992), Davis (1962), Duckworth, Meijaard & Gumal (2008a), Hayssen et al. (1993), Heaney (1985), Payne (1980), Payne & Francis (1985), Thorington et al. (2012).
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.
