Sciurus pucheranii (Fitzinger, 1867)

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 : 753

95.

Andean Squirrel

Sciurus pucheranii

French: Ecureuil de Colombie / German: Anden-Hérnchen / Spanish: Ardilla de los Andes

Other common names: Pucheran’s Squirrel

Taxonomy. Funambulus pucheranii Fitzinger, 1867 ,

“Colombia, near Bogota.”

Three subspecies are recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

S.p.pucheraniiFitzinger,1867—EAndesRangeofColombia.

S.p.caucensisNelson,1899—WAndesRangeofColombia.

S. p. medellinensis Gray, 1872 — C Andes Range of Colombia.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 140-184 mm, tail 119-160 mm; weight 100-146 g. The Andean Squirrel has thick soft dark reddish brown dorsal pelage, sometimes with dark midline. Some individuals have black crown and sparsely furred ears. Venter is brownish gray or buff. Subspecies differ primarily in color of venter. Subspecies medellinensis has blackish midline and whitish venter, whereas other subspecies lack midline. Nominate pucheranii has brownish gray venter, and caucensis has brownish buff venter.

Habitat. Montane sub-Andean and Andean forests at elevations of 2200-3500 m.

Food and Feeding. The Andean Squirrel is herbivorous and reported to forage for tree seeds and fruits on the ground and in the canopy.

Breeding. Female Andean Squirrels have six paired mammae, but reproductive biology is virtually unknown.

Activity patterns. Andean Squirrels are diurnal and terrestrial. They are active throughout the year.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Andean Squirrels appear to live and forage alone, only occasionally interacting with others at concentrated food sources.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. Population trend of the Andean Squirrel is unknown. Lack of information on ecology, natural history, or threats impedes conservation and management.

Bibliography. Allen (1915b), Hernandez-Camacho (1960), Hershkovitz (1977), Leonard et al. (2009), Thorington et al. (2012).

Figures

84. Collie’s Squirrel (Sciurus colliaer), 85. Allen’s Squirrel (Sciurus alleni), 86. Mexican Fox Squirrel (Sciurus nayaritensis), 87. Red-bellied Squirrel (Sciurus aureogaster), 88. Deppe’s Squirrel (Sciurus deppei), 89. Peters’s Squirrel (Sciurus oculatus), 90. Yucatan Squirrel (Sciurus yucatanensis), 91. Variegated Squirrel (Sciurus variegatoides), 92. Richmond’s Squirrel (Sciurus richmond), 93. Red-tailed Squirrel (Sciurus granatensis), 94. Guianan Squirrel (Sciurus aestuans), 95. Andean Squirrel (Sciurus pucheranii), 96. Fiery Squirrel (Sciurus flammafer), 97. Yellow-throated Squirrel (Sciurus gilvigularis), 98. Northern Amazon Red Squirrel (Sciurus igniventris), 99. Southern Amazon Red Squirrel (Sciurus spadiceus), 100. Guayaquil Squirrel (Sciurus stramineus), 101. Bolivian Squirrel (Sciurus ignitus), 102. Junin Red Squirrel (Sciurus pyrrhinus), 103. Sanborn’s Squirrel (Sciurus sanborni), 104. Tufted Ground Squirrel (Rheithrosciurus macrotis), 105. Central American Dwarf Squirrel (Microsciurus alfari), 106. Western Dwart Squirrel (Microsciurus mimulus), 107. Santander Dwarf Squirrel (Microsciurus santanderensis), 108. Amazon Dwarf Squirrel (Microsciurus flaviventer), 109. Bangs’s Mountain Squirrel (Syntheosciurus brochus)