Sciurus aureogaster, F. Cuvier, 1829
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6840226 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6818772 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/064D0660-FFE5-ED18-FF14-FEFBFDB1FCAF |
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treatment provided by |
Diego |
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scientific name |
Sciurus aureogaster |
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Red-bellied Squirrel
Sciurus aureogaster View in CoL
French: Ecureuil du Mexique / German: Rotbauchhérnchen / Spanish: Ardilla de vientre rojo
Other common names: Mexican Gray Squirrel, Mexican Red-bellied Squirrel
Taxonomy. Sciurus aureogaster F. Cuvier, 1829 View in CoL ,
“California.”
Restricted by E. W.
Nelson in 1899 to Alta Mira, Tamaulipas, Mexico.
Two subspecies are recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution.
S. a. nigrescens Bennett, 1833 — Pacific coastal plain and mountains of C & S Mexico, and SW & S Guatemala.
Descriptive notes. Head-body 232-310 mm, tail 215-284 mm; weight 375-690 g. The Red-bellied Squirrel has extreme individual and geographical variation in pattern and color of pelage. Upper parts are frosted pale to dark grizzled gray; patches of varying size and color may occur on nape, shoulders, rump, and sides. Venter ranges from white and orange to chestnut; tail ranges from variegated, grayish buff when under parts are pale to orange-red or chestnut when venter is deep orange. Partial and complete melanism is common. Dorsal patches appear brighter on adults than on juveniles. Subspecies nigrescens has white-to-chestnut venter (not orange red), conspicuous postauricular patches, sharp patchy dorsum, and gray-tochestnut tail (not white).
Habitat. A variety of forests, especially dry open pine-oak (Pinus, Pinaceae, and Quercus, Fagaceae) woodlands and thornscrub. The Red-bellied Squirrel can thrive in secondary forests, plantations, and urban areas.
Food and Feeding. The Red-bellied Squirrel is herbivorous and primarily feeds on acorns (Quercus) and pine nuts (Pinus) throughout most of its distribution; it also eats fungi, insects, eggs, and nestlings. Acorns of ten species of oak are readily consumed, with preference for acorns from white oaks (section Lepidobalanus). Fruits of mango (Mangifera) and hog plums (Spondias), both Anacardiaceae; wild green figs (Ficus, Moraceae); tamarind pods (Tamarindus, Fabaceae); sapodilla (Manilkara, Sapotaceae); palm nuts (Astrocaryum mexicanum, Arecaceae); and a variety of legumes are eaten. Red-bellied Squirrels excise the embryos of white oak acorns and also remove the embryo from germinated red oaks (section Erythrobalanus) prior to caching seeds; behaviors common in congeners from temperate forests.
Breeding. The Red-bellied Squirrel reproduces throughout the year; mating chases involving up to nine males are observed during most months, and males with enlarged, scrotal testes are common year-round. Females produce 2—4 young/litter after gestation of c¢.44 days. Lactation occurs throughout the year, and young disperse soon after weaning.
Activity patterns. Red-bellied Squirrels are diurnal and active throughout the year. Two peaks in their daily activity occur from 06:30 h to 10:00 h and from 14:00 h to 19:00 h, with greatest activity in morning. Around midday, individuals can be regularly observed resting or sleeping on tree branches.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Red-bellied Squirrel constructs spherical dreys of green leaves and twigs. Individuals are not territorial, and home ranges overlap. Densities are 0-4-3 ind/ha. Male home ranges average 2:3 ha (range 0-9-4-7 ha) and females average 0-9 ha (range 0-5-1-2 ha). Individuals are usually solitary, except when attracted to abundant food resources. The Red-bellied Squirrel is generally quiet and calls only when distressed or mating. Four vocalizations can be identified: low-pitched, barking call emitted when individuals are apprehensive about a distant threat; high-pitched, barking call emitted when dangeris nearby; piercing, high-pitched squeal emitted when individuals are handled, and rapid squeaks and clicks emitted during mating bouts.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Population trend of the Red-bellied Squirrelis stable. They are hunted for meat and pelts, and they are removed as pests in agricultural fields of cacao, papaya, mango, corn, and coconut plantations. They are considered a pest where introduced in the Florida Keys, USA. These colorful squirrels are occasionally sold as pets and are valued by tourists. Habitat loss and fragmentation are conservation issues because forests are being harvested and converted to agriculture.
Bibliography. Brown & McGuire (1975), Ceballos (2014), Estrada & Coates-Estrada (1985), Musser (1968), Nelson (1899b), Palmer et al. (2013), Ramos-Lara & Cervantes (2007), Romero-Balderas et al. (2006), Steele et al. (2001), 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.
