136 Callosciurus canicepsCallosciurus caniceps (Gray, 1842)
Gray-Bellied Squirrel
description: The gray-bellied squirrel has gray or silvery
gray underparts, which may be washed with red; no stripes
on the sides; and the upperparts and tail speckled olive
brown, frequently with a black tail tip.
size: Female—HB 222.3 mm (n = 11); T 219.4 mm (n = 9);
Mass 312.9 g (n = 15).
Male—HB 215.5 mm (n = 11); T 242.5 mm (n = 15); Mass
316.4 g (n = 10).
Sex not stated—HB 215.9 mm (n = 74); T 230.4 mm (n = 72);
Mass 266.9 g (n = 8).
distribution: It can be found in Thailand, peninsular
Myanmar, peninsular Malaysia, and adjacent islands. It oc-
curs at up to 1433 m on Mount Hijau (in the state of Perak)
and at elevations of 3172 m in the Cameron Highlands of
Malaysia.
geographic variation: Eight subspecies are recognized.
C. c. caniceps—mainland of Thailand and Myanmar. This
form is bright orange on the back grading to agouti gray
underneath, with an abruptly black tail tip. The bright
orange is thought to be molted to agouti gray in the wet
season.
C. c. adangensis—small islands off the coast of southwestern
peninsular Thailand. This subspecies has a distinct black
tail tip, and a buff y midline on the ventral surface of the
tail.
C. c. altinsularis—High Island, Mergui Archipelago (Myan-
mar). This form is much paler than neighboring sub-
species.
C. c. bimaculatus—upper peninsular Thailand and Myanmar
and their off shore islands. This form lacks a reddish suf-
fusion in the dorsal midline, but it shows this coloration
on the sides. It has a distinct black tail tip and a silvery
gray abdomen, sometimes suff used with red.
C. c. casensis—Chance Island, off the west coast of peninsu-
lar Thailand. This form is very pale gray on the under-
side of the tail.
C. c. concolor—peninsular Malaysia and lower peninsular
Thailand. This form has a reddish suff usion in the mid-
line of the back, and it usually lacks a black tail tip; it is
silvery gray underneath.
C. c. domelicus—Domel, Bentinck, and Kisseraing islands,
Mergui Archipelago (Myanmar). This form is dark gray
ventrally, fairly dark dorsally, and intensely red on the
sides.
C. c. fallax—Phangnan Island, off the east coast of Thailand.
This form has a pale tail, but a darker pelage on the dor-
sum and venter.conservation: IUCN status—least concern. Population
trend—stable.habitat: The gray-bellied squirrel is found in secondary
and disturbed forests, and in plantations and gardens. In the
Ulu Gombak Forest Reserve (Selangor, Malaysia), it occursCallosciurus caniceps. Photo courtesy Nick Baker, http://www.ecolo
gyasia.com.