Sciurus colliaer, Richardson, 1839
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6840226 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6818764 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/064D0660-FFEA-ED17-FFCD-FEE2FE6DFF64 |
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treatment provided by |
Diego |
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scientific name |
Sciurus colliaer |
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Collie’s Squirrel
French: Ecureuil de Collie / German: Collie-Hérnchen / Spanish: Ardilla de Collie
Taxonomy. Sciurus colliaei Richardson, 1839 View in CoL ,
“San Blas, Tepic, [Nayarit,] Mexico.”
Four subspecies are recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution.
S.c.colliaeiRichardson,1839—NayaritinWCMexico.
S.c.nuchalisNelson,1899—JaliscoandColimainWCMexico.
S.c.sinaloensisNelson,1899—Sinaloa(WMexico).
S. c. truer Nelson, 1899 — Sierra Madre Occidental in SE Sonora, SW Chihuahua, and Sinaloa, NW Mexico.
Descriptive notes. Head—body mean 248-6 mm (males) and 243-4 mm (females), tail mean 243-2 mm (males) and 260-4 mm (females); weight mean 335-2 g (males) and 440-8 g (females). Dorsum of Collie’s Squirrel is usually dark grizzled gray, with yellowish wash to base oftail. Sides are light gray. Venter is usually white, but can sometimes be light orange. Tail is frosted with buff to white and black on dorsal surface and grizzled gray or dark gray and yellow below. Subspecies nuchalis has yellowish nape, black rump, and yellowish or rust ears relative to nominate colliaei. Subspecies sinaloensis has larger skull than colliaei. Skull of true: is broader and cranium is flatter than colliaer.
Habitat. Dense subtropical and tropical habitats in the coastal plain of the central Pacific Coast of Mexico. Collie’s Squirrel inhabits canyons and at lower elevations (below 2000 m) and is associated with fig (Ficus, Moraceae), palm, upland oak (Quercus, Fagaceae), riparian, and tropical dry forests.
Food and Feeding. Collie’s Squirrel forages on the ground but primarily is seen in the canopy. Feeds heavily on fruits and nuts of palms,figs, and oaks, and agricultural crops when available.
Breeding. Collie’s Squirrel breedsin late spring (March—June); litters of 2-6 young are born after a 44day gestation. Young are nursed for 8-10 weeks.
Activity patterns. Collie’s Squirrels are diurnal and active throughout the year. They have a bimodal activity pattern throughout most of the year with early morning and late afternoon activity peaks.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. Collie’s Squirrels build dreys on outer tree branches and use cavities in tree trunks and abandoned arboreal termite nests. They are found in modest densities up to 5 ind/km?®. Individuals live and forage alone, only occasionally interacting with others at concentrated food sources.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Population trend of Collie’s Squirrel is unknown. A severe lack of information on ecology, natural history, or threats likely impedes conservation and management efforts; it might be vulnerable to forest loss due to urban development and conversion to agriculture. Local people huntthis large-bodied squirrel for meat and to reduce damage to agricultural crops.
Bibliography. Best (1995b), Ceballos (2014), de Grammont et al. (2008), Herrerias-Diego et al. (2008), Peterson et al. (1999), 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.
