Prosciurillus murinus (Muller & Schlegel, 1844)
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6840226 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6818652 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/064D0660-FFC7-ED3A-FF69-F384F5F9F1BF |
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treatment provided by |
Diego |
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scientific name |
Prosciurillus murinus |
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Celebes Dwarf Squirrel
Prosciurillus murinus View in CoL
French: Ecureuil murin / German: Sulawesi-Zwerghdrnchen / Spanish: Ardilla enana de Célebes
Other common names: North Sulawesi Tree Squirrel
Taxonomy. Sciurus murinus S. Muller & Schlegel, 1844 View in CoL ,
“Celebes.”
Restricted by H. J. V. Sody in 1949 to NE Celebes (Sulawesi, Indonesia).
This species is monotypic.
Distribution. Sulawesi, including nearby Talisei and Lembeh Is, also in Sangihe Is, Indonesia.
Descriptive notes. Head-body 102-150 mm, tail 55-120 mm; weight 42-110 g. The Celebes Dwarf Squirrel is the smallest of the endemic squirrels of Sulawesi. Pelage 1s dark brown on dorsum, without any ear tufts, nape patches, or dorsal stripes. Venter is grayish and tail is shorter than head-body length. A buffy ring encircles
each eye. It is similar to the Secretive Dwarf Squirrel (P. abstrusus), but slightly smaller and without white patches behind the ears.
Habitat. Tropical lowland evergreen rainforests and upper montane rainforests, up to elevations of ¢.2200 m. It is thought that the elevational distribution of the Secretive Dwarf Squirrel and the Celebes Dwarf Squirrel are mutually exclusive, with the Secretive Dwarf Squirrel replacing the Celebes Dwarf Squirrel where habitat changes from lower to upper montane forest.
Food and Feeding. The Celebes Dwarf Squirrel forages in tree canopies and on trunks. It has been observed gnawing bark, either to consume it or to capture insects. Based on stomach contents, diet consists of soft fruits, seeds, and insects.
Breeding. Female Celebes Dwarf Squirrels have three pairs of teats, two inguinal and one post-axillary. Only a single embryo was found in each of the few pregnant females examined.
Activity patterns. The Celebes Dwarf Squirrel is diurnal and arboreal, and uses tree branches, vines, and fallen trunks to travel through forest understory. It also walks on the ground, and is quite unwary of humans. The Celebes Dwarf Squirrel is a very vocal species, with vocalizations varying from high-pitched “chunk” to whistles or birdlike staccato trills.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. In Sangihe Island, population density was estimated as 1-3 ind/ha in a primary forest and 0-52 ind/ha in a secondary forest.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. There is no sufficient information on population size and trend for the Celebes Dwarf Squirrel. It is a forest obligate species that is threatened by habitat loss.
Bibliography. Musser et al. (2010), Riley (2002), Ruedas & Suyanto (2008a), Sody (1949), Thorington etal. (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.
