Dremomys rufigenis (Blanford, 1878)

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 : 723

31.

Asian Red-cheeked Squirrel

Dremomys rufigenis

French: Ecureuil a joues rousses / German: Echtes Rotwangenhérnchen / Spanish: Ardilla de mejillas rojas

Taxonomy. Sciurus rufigenis Blanford, 1878 ,

Mt. Mooleyit, Tenasserim, Burma.

Five subspecies are recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

D. r rufigenis Blanford, 1878 — S China (SW Yunnan), C & S Myanmar, Thailand, [Laos, and Vietnam.

D.r.adamsoniThomas,1914—NEIndia,NMyanmar,andSChina(WYunnan).

D.r.belfieldiBonhote,1908—MalayPeninsula.

D.r.fuscusBonhote,1907—SVietnam.

D. r. ornatus Thomas, 1914 — E & S China (Anhui, Hunan, Yunnan, SW Guangxi, and likely in S Guizhou and N Guandong).

Descriptive notes. Head—body 170-228 mm, tail 130-180 mm; weight 190-335 g. The Asian Red-cheeked Squirrel is distinguished by its reddish cheeks, a rich red coloration in anal area and on underside oftail, lack of red thigh patches, and lack of a reddish throat. Its dorsum is dull olive-gray agouti and venter is grayish white. Nominate subspecies rufigenis is dull olive-gray agouti above, with buff or whitish ear patches. Compared with rufigenis, adamsoni has a darker and more reddish dorsum, and patch behind earis larger and whiter. Subspecies belfieldi has a paler and more grizzled dorsum and redder cheeks than rufigenis and also has a white (not buff) patch behind ear. Subspecies fuscus has very dark brown dorsum, grizzled with buff; cheeks are chestnut and thighs are deep chestnut. Venter is creamy white, with deep chestnut on underside oftail. Subspecies ornatusis larger than rufigenis and it is more brightly colored than belfieldi. Chromosome numberis 2n = 38; FN = 62.

Habitat. Foothills, generally at elevations below ¢.1500 m. In Malaysia, the Asian Redcheeked Squirrel occurs on ridges and mountains between elevations of ¢.800-1800 m, and as low as ¢.400 m in tropical submontane forests. It can persist in degraded and fragmented habitats.

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

Breeding. There is no information available for this species.

Activity patterns. The Asian Red-cheeked Squirrel is diurnal. It is partially terrestrial but also spends time high in canopy where it nests in tree hollows. It is found most often in dense shrub layer.

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

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Asian Red-cheeked Squirrel has a wide distribution, a presumed large population, occurs in a number of protected areas, and presents tolerance to habitat modification. It is threatened by hunting for meat in parts of north-eastern India.

Bibliography. Duckworth, Lunde & Molur (2008b), Endo et al. (2003), Jordan et al. (2005e), Koyabu et al. (2012), Moore & Tate (1965), Nadler & Hoffman (1970), Smith & Yan Xie (2008), Thorington et al. (2012).

Figures

24. Swinhoe’s Striped Squirrel (Tamiops swinhoer), 25. Maritime Striped Squirrel (Tamiops maritimus), 26. Himalayan Striped Squirrel (Tamiops mcclellandun), 27. Cambodian Striped Squirrel (Tamiops rodolphii), 28. Perny’s Long-nosed Squirrel (Dremomys pernyi), 29. Orange-bellied Himalayan Squirrel (Dremomys lokriah), 30. Red-hipped Squirrel (Dremomys pyrrhomerus), 31. Asian Red-cheeked Squirrel (Dremomys rufigenis), 32. Red-throated Squirrel (Dremomys gularis), 33. Black-eared Squirrel (Nannosciurus melanotis), 34. Busuanga Squirrel (Sundasciurus hoogstraali), 35. Philippine Tree Squirrel (Sundasciurus philippinensis), 36. Samar Squirrel (Sundasciurus samarensis), 37. Culion Tree Squirrel (Sundasciurus moellendorffi), 38. Northern Palawan Tree Squirrel (Sundasciurus juvencus), 39. Palawan Montane Squirrel (Sundasciurus rabor), 40. Southern Palawan Tree Squirrel (Sundasciurus steerii), 41. Horse-tailed Squirrel (Sundasciurus hippurus)