African pygmy squirrel
African pygmy squirrel | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Rodentia |
Family: | Sciuridae |
Tribe: | Protoxerini |
Genus: | Myosciurus Thomas, 1909 |
Species: | M. pumilio
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Binomial name | |
Myosciurus pumilio (Le Conte, 1857)
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Range map of the African pygmy squirrel |
The African pygmy squirrel (Myosciurus pumilio) is a
Habitat
African pygmy squirrels are diurnal and live in trees. These squirrels are found in many forests in Central Africa. They prefer lower levels of the canopy, and spend most of the time at heights up to five meters.
Physical description
African pygmy squirrels are the smallest squirrel species in the world. These pygmy squirrels have longer hind limbs than forelimbs, an arched profile skull, rooted cheek teeth, and ever growing incisors. The African pygmy squirrel's tiny body is more mouse-like than squirrel-like. The borders of the eyes and ears are rounded with white edges at the tip. The coat is light olive white in the under parts and buffy umber brown in the upper parts. The standard adult mass is 16.5 grams (0.58 oz). This species has one premolar in each side of the upper jaw. There is slight
Reproduction
Information regarding the African pygmy squirrel's reproduction has not been fully defined. Generally arboreal squirrels have a polygamous mating system, where there is male-male competition for access to females. Eventually the female surrenders and mates with the most competitive, and they will mate in a protected area to prevent attacks or threats during copulation. The average number of offspring is about 2. It has been indicated that breeding occurs early during the year. Breeding appears to be concentrated seasonally based on observations of similar squirrel species, but it is not known which season favors breeding. Females provide all the parental care for the offspring, but researchers have not defined the details.
Behavior
African pygmy squirrels live in trees, they are diurnal squirrels that spend time searching for food, due to their small size. They are the only species of squirrels that travel upside down and right-side up along the branches of trees. African pygmy squirrels are solitary, but they have been observed with other individuals. They do not participate in grouping together to attack predators.
Communication and perception
African Pygmy Squirrels have keen hearing, vision, and smell. They use the
Food habits
Unlike most squirrels, African pygmy squirrels don't
Predation
African pygmy squirrels are victims to birds of prey. Also some other known predators are civets, snakes, and army ants. These squirrels have a cryptic color and remain aware to protect themselves from predators.
Conservation status
References
- ^ . Retrieved 27 November 2023.
- ^ ISBN 0-12-408355-2.
- Emmons L.H. 1980. Ecology and resource partitioning among nine species of African rain forest squirrels. Ecological Monographs 50 (1): 31-54
- Emmons L.H. 1979. Observations on litter size and development of some African rainforest squirrels. Biotropica 11 (3): 207-213
- Emmons L.H. 1979. A note on the forefoot of Myosciurus pumilio. Journal of Mammalogy 60 (2): 431-432
- Gharaibeh B.M. and Jones C. 1996 Myosciurus pumilio. Mammalian Species 523: 1-3: 17]
- Jones, C., H. Setzer. 1970. Comments on Myosciurus Pumilio. Journal of Mammalogy, 51/4: "813-814
- Macdonald, D. (ed.) 2001. The New Encyclopedia of Mammals. Oxford University Press, Oxford, New York
- Nowak, R.M. (ed.) 1999. Walkers Mammals of the World. Sixth edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore and London
- Schlitter D.A. 1989. African rodents of special concern: A preliminary assessment. In Lidlicker (ed)(1989) Rodents: A world survey of species of conservation concern. Occas. pop. Internatl. Union conservation. Nat Species Survival Comm. No4, iv +60pp
- van Tienhoven A., Hayssen V. and van Tienhoven A. 1993. Asdell's patterns of mammalian reproduction: a compendium of species-specific data: i-viii, 1-1023