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Callosciurus

{{Short description|Genus of "beautiful" squirrels from Asia}}

{{Automatic taxobox

| fossil_range = Early Pleistocene to Recent

| image = Callosciurus prevosti.jpg

| image_caption = Prevost's squirrel (Callosciurus prevostii)

| taxon = Callosciurus

| authority = J. E. Gray, 1867

| type_species = Sciurus rafflesii

| type_species_authority = Vigors & Horsfield, 1867
(= Sciurus prevostii Desmarest, 1822)

| subdivision_ranks = Species

| subdivision =

}}

Callosciurus is a genus of squirrels collectively referred to as the "beautiful squirrels". They are found mainly in Southeast Asia, though a few species also occur in Nepal, northeastern India, Bangladesh and southern China.{{MSW3|id=12400446}} Several of the species have settled on islands. In total, the genus contains 15 species and numerous varieties and subspecies. The genera Glyphotes, Rubrisciurus, and Tamiops have sometimes been included in Callosciurus.

Species

There are approximately 15 species in this genus, and over 60 subspecies. These squirrels range in length from {{convert|13|to|27|cm|abbr=on}}, not including the tail which is often about the same length as the body.Payne, J., and C. M. Francis (1985), A Field Guide to the Mammals of Borneo. {{ISBN|967-99947-1-6}} Most are rather dull olive-brown to gray and several have a pale and dark stripe on their side, however a few are very colorful.Francis, C. M. (2008). A Guide to the Mammals of Southeast Asia. {{ISBN|978-0-691-13551-9}} The Pallas's squirrel may have an olive-gray back, while its belly is often –but not always– bright red.Smith, T. S., and Y. Xie, editors (2008). A Guide to the Mammals of China. {{ISBN|978-0-691-09984-2}} The "typical" subspecies of Prevost's squirrels have black backs, white sides, and red-brown undersides. The Finlayson's squirrel occurs in numerous varieties, three of which are overall red-brown, overall black, or pure white.

Most squirrels in Callosciurus live in tropical rain forests, but some individuals live in parks and gardens in cities. In the trees, they build their nests out of plant material. They are solitary, and give birth to one to five young. Their food consists of nuts, fruits, and seeds, and also of insects and bird eggs.{{cn|date=March 2025}}

class="wikitable"
ImageScientific nameCommon nameDescriptionDistribution
Callosciurus quinquestriatusAnderson's squirrelMade up of two subspecies, C. q. quinqestriatus and C. q. imarius.{{cite book|last1=Thorington|first1=R.W. Jr.|last2=Hoffmann|first2=R.S.|year=2005|pages=754–818|editor1-last=Wilson|editor1-first=D.E.|editor2-last=Reeder|editor2-first=D.M|url=http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3|chapter=Family Sciuridae|chapter-url=https://www.departments.bucknell.edu/biology/resources/msw3/browse.asp?id=12400001|title=Mammal Species of the World: a taxonomic and geographic reference|edition=3rd|publisher=The Johns Hopkins University Press|isbn=978-0-8018-8221-0|oclc=26158608}} This species is listed as "Near Threatened" by the IUCN due to habitat loss.{{Cite iucn | author = Lunde, D. | author2 = Duckworth, J. W. | author3 = Lee, B. | author4 = Tizard, R. J. | name-list-style = amp | title = Callosciurus quinquestriatus | page = e.T3605A9977678 | year = 2008 | doi = 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T3605A9977678.en | access-date = 11 January 2018}}China and Myanmar
Callosciurus nigrovittatusBlack-striped squirrelThis taxon consists of four subspecies: C. n. nigrovittatus, C. n. bilimitatus, C. n. bocki, and C. n. klossi. It is listed as "Near Threatened" by the IUCN.{{Cite iucn | author = Duckworth, J. W. | author2 = Lee, B. | author3 = Tizard, R. J. | name-list-style = amp | title = Callosciurus nigrovittatus | page = e.T3599A9967361 | year = 2008 | doi = 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T3599A9967361.en | access-date = 11 January 2018}}Java, Sumatra, southern Thailand, the Malay Peninsula, and numerous small islands
120pxCallosciurus orestesBorneo black-banded squirrelListed as "Least Concern" by the IUCN.{{cite iucn |author=Lee, B.P.Y-H. |author2=Tizard, R.J. |date=2016 |title=Callosciurus orestes |volume=2016 |page=e.T3601A22253873 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T3601A22253873.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}Endemic to northern Borneo
120pxCallosciurus adamsiEar-spot squirrelListed as "Vulnerable" by the IUCN.{{cite iucn |author=Kennerley, R. |author2=Meijaard, E. |year=2016 |title=Callosciurus adamsi |page=e.T3591A22254804 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T3591A22254804.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}northern Borneo
120pxCallosciurus finlaysonii, misspelled C. finlaysoniFinlayson's squirrel, variable squirrelCambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.
120pxCallosciurus canicepsGrey-bellied squirrelconsist of six subspecies found in forests, plantations and gardensPeninsular Malaysia, Thailand, southern Myanmar, southern China (Yunnan) and possibly western Laos.{{cite iucn |author=Duckworth, J.W. |year=2016 |title=Callosciurus caniceps |page=e.T3594A22254694 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T3594A22254694.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}
Callosciurus honkhoaiensisHon Khoai squirrelFirst described in 2018, it is a dwarf species related to the grey-bellied squirrel, from which it probably diverged during the Pliocene.{{cite journal |last1= Nguyen|first1= Son Truong|last2= Oshida|first2= Tatsuo|last3=Dang|first3=Phuong Huy|last4=Bui|first4=Hai Tuan|last5=Motokawa|first5=Masaharu|date= June 2018|title= A new species of squirrel (Sciuridae:Callosciurus) from an isolated island off the Indochina Peninsula in southern Vietnam|journal= Journal of Mammalogy|volume= 99|issue= 4|pages= 813–825|doi= 10.1093/jmammal/gyy061|doi-access= free}}found only on Hon Khoai island off the southern tip of Vietnam
Callosciurus inornatusInornate squirrelThis squirrel was once considered a subspecies of Callosciurus pygerythrus, and as a result several texts inaccurately cite C. pygerythrus as being found in these areas.{{cite iucn |author=Duckworth, J.W. |author2=Timmins, R.J. |year=2016 |title=Callosciurus inornatus |page=e.T3597A22254170 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T3597A22254170.en |access-date=12 November 2021}} The reclassification was based on different fur characteristics, placing it closer in relation to C. caniceps.Corbet and Hill, 1992 It is listed as "Least Concern" by IUCN.distributed across Laos, Vietnam, and the Chinese province of Yunnan.
120pxCallosciurus pygerythrusIrrawaddy squirrelMade up of seven subspeciesfound throughout Bangladesh, China, India, Myanmar, and Nepal.{{cite iucn |author=Duckworth, J.W. |year=2016 |title=Callosciurus pygerythrus |page=e.T3604A22253451 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T3604A22253451.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}
Callosciurus baluensisKinabalu squirrelIts tail and upperparts are grizzled blackish, the underparts are reddish-orange, and the flanks have a narrow buff stripe with a broader black stripe below. This species is listed as "Least Concern" by the IUCN.{{cite iucn |author=Meijaard, E. |date=2016 |title=Callosciurus baluensis |volume=2016 |page=e.T3593A22254589 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T3593A22254589.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}endemic to northeastern Borneo, specifically the wide area around Mount Kinabalu.
Callosciurus albescensKloss's squirrelpopulation data is insufficient to assess its endangerment status according to the IUCN.{{cite iucn|author=Koprowski, J. |year=2016 |title= Callosciurus albescens |errata= 2017 |page= e.T3592A115065203 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T3592A22254928.en |access-date=23 December 2023}} It is debated whether it is a subspecies of C. notatus, which would make Kloss's squirrel instead be named C. notatus albescens.endemic to northern Sumatra
Callosciurus melanogasterMentawai squirrelIt is further dived into three subspecies: C. m. melanogaster, C. m. mentawi, and C. m. atratus. This small isolated population is listed as "Vulnerable" by the IUCN due to habitat loss.{{cite iucn |author=Lee, B. |date=2016 |title=Callosciurus melanogaster |volume=2016 |page=e.T3598A22254282 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T3598A22254282.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}native to the Mentawai Islands off the west coast of Sumatra
Callosciurus phayreiPhayre's squirrellisted as "Least Concern" by the IUCN.{{cite iucn |author=Chiozza, F. |year=2016 |title=Callosciurus phayrei |page=e.T3602A22253805 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T3602A22253805.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}found in China and southern Myanmar
120pxCallosciurus notatusPlantain squirrelfound in a wide range of habitats: forests, mangroves, parks, gardens, agricultural areasIndonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand
120pxCallosciurus prevostiiPrevost's squirrel, Asian tri-colored squirrelforest in the Thai-Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo and nearby smaller islands, with an introduced population in northern Sulawesi.
120pxCallosciurus erythraeusPallas's squirrel, red-bellied tree squirrelGreater China, India, and Southeast Asia.

References

{{Reflist}}

Sources

  • Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999 {{ISBN|0-8018-5789-9}}
  • [http://www.ecologyasia.com/verts/mammals/grey-bellied_squirrel.htm Ecology Asia page with photos and description].
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20110716084253/http://www.wildsingapore.per.sg/discovery/factsheet/squirrelvariable.htm Wildlife Singapore Photos and description]
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20090711225238/http://www.ecologyasia.com/verts/mammals/variable-squirrel.htm Ecology Asia Photos and description]

External links

{{Commons category}}

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20130801035230/http://www.thailex.asia/THAILEX/THAILEXENG/lexicon/Squirrels%20%26%20Other%20Rodents.htm Squirrels of Southeast Asia]
  • [http://siamensis.org/content/2389 Photo gallery showing some of the variations of the Gray-bellied Squirrel]
  • [http://siamensis.org/content/2339 Photo gallery showing some of the variations of Finlayson's Squirrel]
  • [http://www.ecologyasia.com/verts/mammals/plantain_squirrel.htm Profile] at ecologyasia.com
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20110716084244/http://www.wildsingapore.per.sg/discovery/factsheet/squirrelplantain.htm Profile] at wildsingapore.per.sg

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Category:Rodent genera

Category:Articles containing video clips

Category:Taxa named by John Edward Gray

nl:Prevosts klapperrat