Paraxerus vincent, Hayman, 1950

Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2016, Sciuridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 6 Lagomorphs and Rodents I, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 648-837 : 837

292.

Vincent's Bush Squirrel

Paraxerus vincent

French: Ecureuil de Vincent / German: Vincent-Buschhornchen / Spanish: Ardilla de matorral de Vincent

Other common names: Selinda Mountain Squirrel

Taxonomy. Paraxerus vincent Hayman, 1950 ,

“Namuli Mountain, N of the Zambezi River, Mozambique.”

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Restricted to Mt Namuli in C Mozambique (15-21° S, 37-04° E).

Descriptive notes. Head-body ¢.208-215 mm, tail ¢.206-214 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. Grizzled black pelage adorns dorsum, limbs, and tops of feet of Vincent’s Bush Squirrel. Under parts, nose, and area surrounding eyes are deep rufous. Crown of head and cheeks are dark brown. Long tail is black-brown grading to rufous distally. Vincent's Bush Squirrel strongly resembles the Red Bush Squirrel (P. palliatus), but it has much darker fur on venter.

Habitat. Moist evergreen forests at elevations of 1200-1850 m.

Food and Feeding. There is no information available for this species.

Breeding. There is no information available for this species.

Activity patterns. There is no specific information available for this species, but Vincent’s Bush Squirrel is diurnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no information available for this species.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red List. Current population trend of Vincent's Bush Squirrelis decreasing. Forests on Mount Namuli are under threat from fires, cultivation, and harvesting for fuel wood. It might be hunted for bushmeat. Few dedicated surveys have been carried out in its distribution, and it is unknown whether it is present in surrounding mountains or if there are any other specific threats.

Bibliography. Hayman (1950), Smithers & Tello (1976), Thorington et al. (2012), Viljoen (1989).

Figures

277. Ribboned Rope Squirrel (Funisciurus lemniscatus), 278. Congo Rope Squirrel (Funisciurus congicus), 279. Carruther’s Mountain Squirrel (Funisciurus carruthersi), 280. Du Chaillu’s Rope Squirrel (Funisciurus duchaillui), 281. Lunda Rope Squirrel (Funisciurus bayonii), 282. Green Bush Squirrel (Paraxerus poensis), 283. Cooper's Mountain Squirrel (Paraxerus cooperi), 284. Boehm' ’ s Bush Squirrel (Paraxerus boehmi), 285. Alexander’s Bush Squirrel (Paraxerus alexandri), 286. Ochre Bush Squirrel (Paraxerus ochraceus), 287. Red Bush Squirrel (Paraxerus palliatus), 288. Striped Bush Squirrel (Paraxerus flavouvittis), 289. Swynnerton’s Bush Squirrel (Paraxerus vexillarius), 290. Smith’s Bush Squirrel (Paraxerus cepapi), 291. Black-and-red Bush Squirrel (Paraxerus lucifer), 292. Vincent's Bush Squirrel (Paraxerus vincent)

Distribution. Restricted to Mt Namuli in C Mozambique (15-21° S, 37-04° E).