Rubrisciurus rubriventer (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.6818646 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/064D0660-FFC4-ED3A-FACF-F34DFB76F137 |
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treatment provided by |
Diego |
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scientific name |
Rubrisciurus rubriventer |
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Sulawesi Giant Squirrel
Rubrisciurus rubriventer View in CoL
French: Ecureuil des Célebes / German: Sulawesi-Riesenhdrnchen / Spanish: Ardilla gigante de Célebes
Taxonomy. Sciurus rubriventer S. Miller & Schlegel, 1844 View in CoL ,
“Celebes”
(Minahassa Peninsula, NE Sulawesi, Indonesia).
This species is monotypic.
Distribution. Sulawesi and Sangihe Is, Indonesia.
Descriptive notes. Head-body 150-305 mm, tail 180-255 mm; weight 500-860 g. The Sulawesi Giant Squirrel is the largest of the Sulawesi endemic squirrels. Pelage of head and dorsum is brownish speckled with buff, orange, and black. Ears have prominent glossy black tufts and each eye is circled by a wide buffy ring, with a dark crescent above. Venter is reddish and extends to inner and outer surface of limbs, darkening to a reddish maroon on shoulders,sides, and dorsal surfaces of limbs. Tail is reddish brown. Juveniles have similar coloration to adults, but more muted.
Habitat. Primary tropical lowland evergreen forests and lower montane rainforests, from sea level up to elevations of c.1512 m.
Food and Feeding. The Sulawesi Giant Squirrel feeds on seeds, fruits, and arthropods, which it captures by digging into rotting wood. Skull morphology indicates thatit is able to consume hard seeds.
Breeding. Female Sulawesi Giant Squirrels have only two pairs of teats. A single embryo was found in each of the few pregnant females examined.
Activity patterns. The Sulawesi Giant Squirrel is diurnal and semi-arboreal, foraging and traveling in the understory or on the ground, but not in the canopy. According to anecdotal evidence, nest is built in forest understory, not far from aboveground. Nest is globular, about 30 cm in diameter, made with long black fibers of sugar palm (Arenga pinnata, Arecaceae) and built in the hollow of a large tree trunk (such as Pterospermum celebicum, Malvaceae). The Sulawesi Giant Squirrel is not highly vocal,it is wary of humans and easily startled. A good indicator ofits presence is the loud sound produced when it gnaws fruits of the Pangium edule (Flacourtiaceae).
Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no information available for this species.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List.
Bibliography. Helgen & Aplin (2008a), Musseret al. (2010), Riley (2002), 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.
