Pallas's squirrel

"Red-bellied tree squirrel" redirects here. Not to be confused with Red-bellied squirrel.

Pallas's squirrel (Callosciurus erythraeus), also known as the red-bellied tree squirrel, is a species of squirrel native to China, Taiwan, India, and Southeast Asia.

Pallas's squirrel
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)^[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Sciuridae
Genus:	Callosciurus
Species:	C. erythraeus
Binomial name
Callosciurus erythraeus (Pallas, 1779)
Subspecies
About 30; see text
Synonyms
Callosciurus flavimanus Callosciurus sladeni

Description

 

Some populations (this from Arunachal Pradesh, India) have a bright red belly, but in others it is much duller or may only have a reddish/orangish tinge

Pallas's squirrel is a medium-sized tree squirrel, with a head-body length of 16 to 28 cm (6.3 to 11.0 in), and a tail 11 to 26 cm (4.3 to 10.2 in) in length. Both sexes are of similar size and appearance, and weigh between 310 and 460 g (11 and 16 oz). The colour of the pelt varies considerably between the many different subspecies, but is generally brownish on the upper body with a more reddish tint on the belly, and often with some black on the tail. The precise pattern and shades of the fur are often used to distinguish subspecies from one another, but make it difficult to distinguish the species as a whole from other, similarly variable, tree squirrel species.^[2]

Subspecies

Over 30 subspecies have been identified, although not all are recognised by all authorities:^[2]

C. e. erythraeus C. e. atrodorsalis C. e. bartoni C. e. bhutanensis C. e. bonhotei C. e. castaneoventris C. e. erythrogaster C. e. flavimanus

C. e. gloveri C. e. gongshanensis C. e. gordoni C. e. griseimanus C. e. griseopectus C. e. haringtoni C. e. hendeei C. e. hyperythrus

C. e. intermedius C. e. michianus C. e. ningpoensis C. e. pranis C. e. qinglingensis C. e. rubeculus C. e. shanicus C. e. siamensis

C. e. sladeni C. e. styani C. e. thai C. e. thaiwanensis C. e. wuliangshanensis C. e. wulingshanensis C. e. zhaotongensis C. e. zimmeensis

Distribution and habitat

Pallas's squirrel is found throughout much of southeastern Asia, including far eastern India, Bhutan, northern and eastern Myanmar, Vietnam, parts of Cambodia and Laos, much of Thailand, northern peninsular Malaysia, Taiwan, and southern and eastern China, including Hainan . Within this region, they are found within a range of forest habitats below 3,000 m (9,800 ft) elevation, including tropical and subtropical evergreen,^[3] deciduous broadleaf, and subalpine conifer woodlands.^[1]

Populations have been introduced in the Buenos Aires Province of Argentina, Dadizele in Belgium (where initially mistaken for Père David's rock squirrel), the Netherlands, Cap d'Antibes in France, and Japan.^[2][4] In these regions it is considered an invasive species, as it can cause considerable damage to trees and may outcompete native wildlife such as the red squirrel.^[4] In 2016, the species was included in the European list of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern (the Union list).^[5] This implies that it cannot be imported, bred, transported, commercialized, or intentionally released into the environment in the whole of the European Union.^[6]

Biology

 

Pallas's squirrel feeding on fruit in Taiwan

Like all tree squirrels, Pallas's squirrels are primarily herbivorous. They eat a wide range of different foods, and have differing diets in different parts of their broad range. However, primary foodstuffs include leaves, flowers, seeds, and fruit.^[7] They also eat small quantities of insects, as well as occasional bird eggs.^[2]

The squirrels breed throughout the year, and may mate again as soon as they have weaned a previous litter. Gestation lasts 47 to 49 days, and results in the birth of up to four young, with two being typical. The young leave the nest at 40 to 50 days old, and are sexually mature at one year of age. They have lived for up to 17 years in captivity.^[2]

Behaviour

 

Pallas's squirrel drinking water in a park

Pallas's squirrels are diurnal,^[2] and inhabit much of the forest canopy, and construct both leaf nests 7 to 18 m (23 to 59 ft) above the ground, and less commonly, in burrows.^[8] Females occupy home ranges of just 0.5 to 0.8 hectares (1.2 to 2.0 acres), which usually do not overlap, while males occupy much larger ranges of 1.3 to 3.8 ha (3.2 to 9.4 acres), which overlap with those of both nearby males and females.^[9] Like many other squirrels, they have been observed to cache acorns in the autumn.^[3]

The squirrels make calls to warn neighbours of predators, and have been observed to mob tree-climbing snakes, with females protecting young being particularly likely to join in.^[10] Males also make loud calls both prior to and after mating.^[11]

References

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Callosciurus erythraeus.

1. Duckworth, J.W.; Timmins, R.J.; Molur, S. (2017). "Callosciurus erythraeus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T3595A22254356. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T3595A22254356.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
2. Lurz, W.W.; et al. (2013). "Callosciurus erythraeus (Rodentia: Sciuridae)". Mammalian Species. 45 (902): 60–74. doi:10.1644/902.1.
3. Xiao, Z.; et al. (2009). "Behavioral adaptation of Pallas's squirrels to germination schedule and tannins in acorns". Behavioral Ecology. 20 (5): 1050–1055. doi:10.1093/beheco/arp096.
4. Stuyck, Baert, Breyne & Adriaens (2010). Invasion history and control of a Pallas squirrel Callosciurus erythraeus population in Dadizele, Belgium. Instituut voor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek
5. "List of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern - Environment - European Commission". ec.europa.eu. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
6. "REGULATION (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European parliament and of the council of 22 October 2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species".
7. Koyabu, D.B.; et al. (2009). "Craniodental mechanics and the feeding ecology of two sympatric callosciurine squirrels in Vietnam". Journal of Zoology. 279 (4): 372–380. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.2009.00629.x.
8. Setoguchi, M. (1991). "Nest-site selection and nest-building behavior of red-bellied tree squirrels on Tomogashima Island, Japan". Journal of Mammalogy. 72 (1): 163–170. doi:10.2307/1381991. JSTOR 1381991.
9. Tamura, N.; et al. (1988). "Dominance hierarchy and mating behavior of the Formosan squirrel, Callosciurus erythraeus thaiwanensis". Journal of Mammalogy. 69 (2): 320–331. doi:10.2307/1381382. JSTOR 1381382.
10. Tamura, N. (1989). "Snake-directed mobbing by the Formosan squirrel Callosciurus erythraeus thaiwanensis". Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. 24 (3): 175–180. doi:10.1007/BF00292100. S2CID 23763014.
11. Tamura, N. (1995). "Postcopulatory mate guarding by vocalization in the Formosan squirrel". Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. 36 (6): 377–386. doi:10.1007/BF00177333. S2CID 32364496.