Sciurus stramineus, Eydoux & Souleyet, 1841
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6840226 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6818796 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/064D0660-FFE3-ED1F-FA63-F584FB36F3B9 |
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treatment provided by |
Diego |
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scientific name |
Sciurus stramineus |
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Guayaquil Squirrel
Sciurus stramineus View in CoL
French: Ecureuil du Guayaquil / German: Guayaquil-Hoérnchen / Spanish: Ardilla de Guayaquil
Taxonomy. Sciurus stramineus Eydoux & Souleyet, 1841 View in CoL ,
“Peru, Piura Dept.
Omatope.”
This species is monotypic.
Distribution. SW Ecuador and extreme NW Peru, in the region surrounding the Gulf of Guayaquil. Introduced into Limacity (Peru).
Descriptive notes. Head-body 180-320 mm, tail 250-330 mm; weight 460-495 g. The Guayaquil Squirrel has two main color morphs, with considerable variation. The darker morph has shoulders grizzled black and white, with rump and base oftail grizzled dull orange and black and head and ears black. Feet are black or white, and venter is brown or reddish. A lighter grayer morph has upper body and tail heavily frosted with white such that body and tail appear light gray. Rump is washed with faint orange or buff; collar around neck behind ears that is pure white or pale yellow; ears are black; and venteris gray.
Habitat. Dry, humid, and montane forests including secondary and mature forests from sea level to elevations of ¢.2000 m. The Guayaquil Squirrel occurs in coffee plantations, and an introduced population also persists in parks, tree-lined streets, and zoos in Lima, Peru.
Food and Feeding. The Guayaquil Squirrel forages on the ground and in the canopy. It is an omnivorous seed predator and frugivore that consumes seeds, nuts,fruits, buds, and occasionally insects.
Breeding. There is no information available for this species.
Activity patterns. The Guayaquil Squirrelis diurnal and active throughout the year.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Guayaquil Squirrel is usually solitary. Nests are constructed of woven sticks, 30 cm diameter, and located in trees other than palms, above ¢.5 m, and can be in close proximity to houses. Individuals forage on the ground and in the canopy and climb on telephone wires and houses in urban areas.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Population trend of the Guayaquil Squirrel is unknown. Lack of information on ecology, natural history, or threats likely impedes conservation and management efforts. Guayaquil Squirrels are hunted and eaten in some localities, and they may be negatively impacted by forest fragmentation that results from conversion to agriculture and woodcutting. Guayaquil Squirrels are sometimes maintained as pets and can carry several diseases and parasites that cause pathology in humans; thus, they can be viewed as a potential health concern in some urban locations.
Bibliography. Eisenberg & Redford (1999), Emmons (1990), Grijalva & Villacis (2009), Jessen et al. (2010), Mer rick et al. (2012), Pacheco (2002), Pacheco et al. (2009), Peralvo et al. (2007), 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.
