Southern Amazon red squirrel
The southern Amazonian red squirrel (Sciurus spadiceus) is a species of squirrel from South America where it lives in the rainforests of northwestern South America on the eastern side of the Andes. Three regions are currently identified. It is red or dark ochre, with a white underparts, and reaches a length of 48-63 cm (19-25 in), including a long tail. It spends a lot of time in the ground under trees and feeds heavily on seeds. Its breeding is not well known, but it is a gregarious species, many feeding together on the same tree. This squirrel does not face any threats, has a wide range and is so common, that the International Union for Conservation of Nature lists it as a "species of no concern". Explanation
One of the largest squirrel species in its range, S. spadiceus measures 48–63 cm (19–25 in) in length, including a tail length of 24–34 cm (9.4 to 13.4 in). Males and females are similar in size and weigh between 570 and 660 g (20 and 23 oz). The fur is usually reddish-brown on most of the body, gray to purple, but it can be dark brown to almost black, especially in S. s. tricolor type. The underparts are white to red in color and are separated from the rest of the body by a narrow band of dark hair. The cheeks and head are yellow to orange-red, and the tail changes from brown at the base to orange along its length.[2]
The southern Amazonian species differs from the more similar northern Amazonian squirrel in having a long, narrow head and orange fur behind its ears and on its legs. Females have eight breasts.[2]
Distribution and accommodation
The red spider of the southern Amazon lives in northwestern South America east of the Andes. It is found from southern Colombia to western Ecuador, from eastern Peru, to northern Bolivia and Brazil south of the Amazon River.[1] Most of them live in lowland forests, although in the western part of their range, some live in the forested mountains of the Andes mountains.[3]
Three subspecies are currently recognized, although the boundaries between their ranges are unclear: [4]
Sciurus spadiceus spadiceus - mainly in Brazil
Sciurus spadiceus steinbachi - mainly in Bolivia
Sciurus spadiceus tricolor - mainly in Peru
biology and behavior
The red spiders of the southern Amazon spend their entire lives on the ground or in growing areas, but they can climb trees and escape into the forest. during heavy floods during monsoons. They are common across their range, with densities of 3.8–6.6 per square kilometer (9.8–17.1/sq mi) reported; Individual homesteads vary from 25 to 50 hectares (62 to 124 acres). They are diurnal herbivores, feeding on large hard fruits, such as those of murumuru, Attalea, and Dipteryx.[2][5] Notable predators include ocelots and jaguars.[6]
Squirrels are not territorial, many individuals often feed on the same tree. They hide seeds on the ground and often descend to ground level when they are frightened, instead of jumping between branches.[2] It has been reported that they make an alarm call that sounds like a sneeze followed by a noise.[7] Although many details about their birth are unclear, females are said to be green from two to four.[8]
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