Callosciurus melanogaster (Thomas, 1895)
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6840226 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6834168 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/064D0660-FFD0-ED2D-FACA-F8DDF92AFA61 |
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treatment provided by |
Diego |
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scientific name |
Callosciurus melanogaster |
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Mentawai Squirrel
Callosciurus melanogaster View in CoL
French: Ecureuil des Mentawai / German: Mentawi-Schonhdrnchen / Spanish: Ardilla de Mentawai
Taxonomy. Sciurus melanogaster Thomas, 1895 ,
Mentawai Islands, Sipora Island, In-
donesia.
Three subspecies are recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution.
C.m.melanogasterThomas,1895—SiporaI,MentawaiIs(offWSumatra).
C.m.atratusMiller,1903—NorthandSouthIs,MentawaiIs(offWSumatra).
C. m. mentawi Chasen & Kloss, 1927 — Siberut I (off W Sumatra).
Descriptive notes. Head—body mean 209 mm (males) and 212 mm (females), tail mean 180 mm (males) and 181 mm (females); weight mean 292-3 g. The Mentawai Squirrel is a black-bellied Callosciurus species. Nominate subspecies melanogaster has black fore and hindfeet and black coloration extending up insides of limbs. It is dark on dorsum as well, with a black head and obscure lateral stripes, the most dorsal of the lateral stripesis grizzled and the ventral stripe is black, merging with coloration of venter. Subspecies atratus has a black tail, blackish brown underparts with a blackish gray belly, a black-and-russet dorsum, and obscure russet and black lateral stripes. Subspecies mentawi is similar to melanogaster, but with a reddish brown venter.
Habitat. Primary mixed lowland forests. On Siberut Island, occasionally seen in primary mixed dipterocarp forests, swamp forests, and disturbed secondary growth.
Food and Feeding. The Mentawai Squirrel has been observed feeding predominantly on fruits and young leaves, but 25% of observations involved bark eating. Stomach contents of three individuals contained 35% vegetable matter and 62% animal matter (mostly arthropods).
Breeding. There is no information available for this species.
Activity patterns. Based on its vocalizations, the Mentawai Squirrel is most active in early morning and late afternoon, and probably before sunrise and after sunset. It is active at all heights in the forest (0-30 m, or more); itis rarely seen on the ground and chooses heights above 25 m for resting
Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no information available for this species.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List. Its restricted insular range and level of habitat degradation are the major conservation concerns associated with the Mentawai Squirrel.
Bibliography. Chasen & Kloss (1927), Lunde, Duckworth et al. (2008a), Miller (1903), Thomas (1895), Thorington et al. (2012), Whitten (1981).
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.
