Callosciurus notatus (Boddaert, 1785)
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6840226 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6818736 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/064D0660-FFD1-ED2C-FF6B-FDF6F825F565 |
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treatment provided by |
Diego |
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scientific name |
Callosciurus notatus |
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Plantain Squirrel
Callosciurus notatus View in CoL
French: Ecureuil tricolore / German: Bananenschonhdrnchen / Spanish: Ardilla de platanero
Other common names: Oriental Squirrel, Tricoloured Squirrel; Kloss Squirrel / Kloss's Squirrel (albescens)
Taxonomy. Sciurus notatus Boddaert, 1785 ,
WJava, Indonesia.
Six subspecies are recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution.
C.n.notatusBoddaert,1785—Java.
C.n.albescensBonhote,1901—NSumatra.
C. n. diardiiJentink, 1879 — S coast ofJava.
C.n.miniatusMiller,1900—MalayPeninsula.
C.n.suffususBonhote,1901—Borneo.
C. n. vittatus Raffles, 1821 — Sumatra.
The subspecific affinities of the forms on Natuna, Anambas, Tioman, Penang, and Malacca Strait Is, Riau and Lingga archipelagos, Bangka, Belitung, Banyak, Batu, and Madura Is, Bali, Lombok and other smaller islands are unclear.
Descriptive notes. Head-body 201-238 mm, tail 175-186 mm; weight 219-234 g. The Plantain Squirrel is a red-bellied squirrel, with brown dorsum, orange or reddish-todeep chestnut venter, and two lateral stripes of white over black. Nominate subspecies notatus has a slight suffusion of buff on venter. Subspecies albescens is a paler form and is sometimes considered a distinct species. Subspecies diardii has buff on venter and around eye;it is darker in eastern part ofits distribution. Subspecies miniatus has a gray venter with a slight brown to dull orange brown tinge; pale flank stripe is narrow. Tip of tail is reddish brown, particularly in western part of its distribution. Subspecies suffusus resembles Malayan forms, but ventral color is a darker chestnut or maroon. Subspecies vittatus resembles miniatus, but venter is usually orange brown, with no red on tail tip.
Habitat. Mangrove and swamp forests, gardens, plantations, secondary forests, and fringe habitats. The Plantain Squirrelis usually rare or absent in tall dipterocarp forests; it can survive in monoculture plantations. It is one of the generalist species dominating the mammalian fauna in a degraded peat swamp forest in Selangor (Malaysia), and it is one of the commonest species in areas disturbed by humans in the Krau Wildlife Reserve (Pahang, Malaysia).
Food and Feeding. In the Krau Wildlife Reserve (Pahang, Malaysia), the Plantain Squirrel eats seeds (c.30%), fruits (10%, including some figs), leaves and shoots (25%), flowers (5%), bark and sap (25%), and insects and other arthropods (5%). In Ulu Gombak Forest Reserve (Selangor, Malaysia), its foods include fruits (43%), bark (40%), and a variety of other plant parts, including flowers (4%) and leaves (1%) from 16 species of plants. On the island of Borneo,it was recorded feeding on the fruit of Rafflesia keithii (Rafflesiaceae), a parasitic plant with colossal unisexual putrid smelling flowers. Plantain Squirrels commonly remove seeds and fruits from fruiting trees and take them elsewhere. They can be seen carrying fruit while traveling far from any fruitbearing tree: perhaps to feed in a more protected area, perhaps to cache food. They usually eat seeds after feeding on the fruit. They will gnaw cambium of rubber trees and lick latex. They are also known to eat insects; their stomach contents have been reported to be up to one-half insects by bulk.
Breeding. The nest of the Plantain Squirrel is spherical in shape, with a poorly defined lateral entrance. It consists of a firm outer wall of twigs or leaves and is lined with fibrous material, such as shredded palm spathe. It is usually placed in the upper branches of a large bush or small tree. In Ulu Gombak Forest Reserve, females mate with 2-4 males during a period of 6-7 hours, with 5-7 males attending. After mating, a male gives a post-copulatory bark for 0-5-8 minutes. Between 1948 and 1952 in Ulu Gombak Forest Reserve (Malaysia), females were pregnant in every month ofthe year, with the fewest in October-December (8%) and the most in April-June (29%). Litter size was 1-4, with a mean of 2-2 young (n = 25 litters).
Activity patterns. Plantain Squirrels travel and feed mainly in small trees. In lowland dipterocarp forests in Ulu Gombak Forest Reserve (Selangor, Malaysia), they are most active in the early morning, with activity tapering off by 10:00 h, then increasing again from 16:00-18:00 h. They appear to avoid the ground, are most frequently observed at heights between 6-10 m, and are seldom seen above 20 m in the trees. In Krau Wildlife Reserve, this species moves about from ground level to 24 m, but it is most commonly seen between 6 —12 m.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. Population density of the Plantain Squirrel is 5-3 ind/km? in Ulu Mudah Forest Reserve (Kedah, Malaysia) and 8-1 ind/ km? in Kayan Mentarang National Park (East Kalimantan, Borneo), but 244 ind/km? in Krau Wildlife Reserve (Pahang, Malaysia). Home ranges differ between males and females: 0-7 ha in males, with extensive overlaps between males and between males and females; and 1-8 ha in females, with no overlap between them, in Ulu Gombak Forest Reserve. The Plantain Squirrel responds to terrestrial predators with a repeated staccato bark and tail flicking, to which other conspecific squirrels react by climbing upward and remaining quiet. Response to an aerial predator is a soft “chuckle,” unless predator is close, in which case the squirrel gives a “rattle” vocalization. Conspecifics react to the latter by freezing and, if nearby, by also giving a rattle call. This call is used
more generally for a close encounter with a terrestrial predator. Snakeselicit squeak alarm calls, causing other squirrels to join in mobbing the snake.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Plantain Squirrel is fairly widespread throughoutits distribution and tolerates a degree of habitat modification.
Bibliography. Abdullah et al. (2001), Becker et al. (1985), Bonhote (1901), Duckworth, Lee & Tizard (2008b), Emmons et al. (1991), Lekagul & McNeely (1977), Lundahl & Olsson (2002), Musser (1987), Norhayati et al. (2004), Payne (1980), Payne & Francis (2005), Saiful & Nordin (2004), Saiful et al. (2001), Tamura (1993), Tamura & Yong Hoisen (1993), 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.
